What is PyCharm IDE?

Many programmers nowadays opt for Python to build software applications with concise, clean, and readable code base. They can even accelerate custom software application development by taking advantage of a number of integrated development environments (IDEs) for Python. PyCharm is one of the most widely used IDEs for Python programming language. At present, the Python IDE is being used by large enterprises like Twitter, Pinterest, HP, Symantec and Groupon.

JetBrains has developed PyCharm as a cross-platform IDE for Python. In addition to supporting versions 2.x and 3.x of Python, PyCharm is also compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS. At the same time, the tools and features provided by PyCharm help programmers to write a variety of software applications in Python quickly and efficiently. The developers can even customize the PyCharm UI according to their specific needs and preferences. Also, they can extend the IDE by choosing from over 50 plug-ins to meet complex project requirements.

Overview of Important Features and Tools Provided by PyCharm

Code Editor

The intelligent code editor provided by PyCharm enables programmers to write high quality Python code. The editor enables programmers to read code easily through colour schemes, insert indents on new lines automatically, pick the appropriate coding style, and avail context-aware code completion suggestions. At the same time, the programmers can also use the editor to expand a code block to an expression or logical block, avail code snippets, format the code base, identify errors and misspellings, detect duplicate code, and auto-generate code. Also, the editor makes it easier for developers to analyze the code and identify the errors while writing code.

Code Navigation

The smart code navigation options provided by PyCharm help programmers to edit and improve code without putting extra time and effort. The IDE makes it easier for programmers to go to a class, file and symbols, along with the go to declarations invoked from a reference. The user can even find an item in the source code, code snippet, UI element, or user action almost immediately. They can further locate usage of various symbols, and set bookmarks in the code. At the same time, the developers can even take advantage of the code navigation feature to scrutinize the code thoroughly in the lens mode.

Refactoring

PyCharm makes it easier for developers to implement both local and global changes quickly and efficiently. The developers can even take advantage of the refactoring options provided by the IDE while writing plain Python code and working with Python frameworks. They can avail the rename and move refactoring for files, classes, functions, methods, properties, parameters, and local/global variables. Likewise, they can improve code quality by extracting variables, fields, constants, and parameters. Also, PyCharm allows programmers to break up longer classes and methods through extract method.

Support for Popular Web Technologies

PyCharm makes it easier for programmers to write various web applications in Python supporting widely used web technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, TypeScript and CoffeeScript. The web developers can use the live editing preview option provided by the IDE to view a single web page simultaneously in the editor and browser. At the same time, the live edit feature provided by the IDE enables programmers to see the changes made to the code instantaneously on a web browser. PyCharm further allows developers to avail a JavaScript debugger as well as CoffeeScript and TypeScript editors. It even simplifies isomorphic web application development by supporting both AngularJS and NodeJS.

Support for Popular Python Web Frameworks

In addition to supporting commonly used web technologies, PyCharm also provides first-class support for a robust Python web framework like Django. The developers can use the IDE to avail code completion suggestions for Django tags, filters, parameters, and template variables. Also, they can gather additional information about tags and filters by referring to the quick documentation. The Python IDE even helps web developers to debug Django templates, format the code, verify the code, and manage .py consoles. At the same time, PyCharm also supports widely used Python web frameworks like Pyramid and Web2Py. It provides code completion and navigation options specific to Pyramid. Likewise, it allows web developers to avail code completion and navigation options while working with Web2Py.

Support for Python Scientific Libraries

PyCharm further helps programmers to use Python more efficiently in big data and data science projects. It supports some of the widely used scientific libraries for Python — NumPy, Anaconda and Metplotlib. The developers can work efficiently with these scientific libraries by availing the interactive graphs, deep code insight, and array viewers provided by the IDE. They can even run the REPL Python console provided by PyCharm to avail robust features like on-the-fly syntax check and code inspection. At the same time, the programmers can also integrate the IDE seamlessly with IPython Notebook to create innovative solutions without putting extra time and effort.

Database Tools

In addition to supporting various Python libraries and frameworks, PyCharm allows developers to work with a number of relational databases including Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL and PostgreSQL. The developers can further use the IDE to run queries, edit SQL code, browse data, alter table data, and alter/analyze schemas. PyCharm further supports SQLAlchemy library and inject SQL code into code written in various programming languages. The professional edition of the IDE further makes it easier for developers to handle large volumes of data efficiently through data grids.

Visual Debugger

The visual debugger provided by the IDE helps programmers to debug Python, JavaScript, and Django code. The developers can use the inline debugger to see live debugging data directly on the editor. Likewise, they can debug multiple Python processes simultaneously and step through the code bypassing libraries. PyCharm further creates reusable and customizable configuration for each test script or debugger execution. The users even have option to facilitate remote debugging by integrating the visual debugger with remote interpreters.

Built-in Terminal

PyCharm comes with local terminals for Windows, Linux, and macOS. The built-in terminal enables programmers to continue coding and testing without leaving the IDE. Also, the programmers can use the IDE to run Python files and configure custom Python environments according to precise project requirements. At the same time, they can run interactive Python or Django consoled directly in the IDE. The console provides useful features like code completion, automatic braces matching, and dynamic syntax change. The programmers even have option to integrate the console with both local and remote interpreters.

Support for Major Version Control Systems

PyCharm allows developers to work with widely used version control systems like Git, Mercurial, Perforce and SVN. It even performs complex tasks like adding, removing, and deleting files automatically. The developers even have option to avail a number of features provided by the IDE regardless of their choice of version control system — grouping individual changes into multiple change lists, setting aside the changes to be restored, monitor changes made to the code repository by various users, and check the changes made to the code before being integrated into the local copy.

Software Testing

Like other IDEs, PyCharm also comes with features and tools to simplify Python application testing. It allows developers to perform unit testing through popular Python testing frameworks like Nose, Attest and Doctests. The testers even have option to run individual or multiple test files and test classes. They can further integrate the IDE with Coverage.py to measure code coverage while testing the applications. While testing multi-threaded applications, the testers can use the thread concurrency visualization option provided by the IDE to control the application fully and efficiently. At the same time, PyCharm enables users to deliver high quality software by implementing behavior-driven development (BDD).

Remote Development Capabilities

PyCharm allows developers to connect with various machines and build software applications remotely. The programmers can avail the built-in SSH console provided by the IDE to connect to machines and perform various development tasks remotely through SSH. They can even run, debug, and profile the Python applications in a remote environment by replacing the local interpreter with a remote interpreter. Also, PyCharm enables programmers to create reproducible development environments through a robust tool like Vagrant, and simplify distributed application development through Docker. The users even have option to integrate PyCharm seamlessly with issue tracking systems.

On the whole, PyCharm is one of the most popular IDEs for Python. The Python programmers can use PyCharm as licensed software. However, JetBrains allows developers to choose from three distinct editions of the IDE — community, professional and educational. The developers can always curtail software development cost by opting for the community edition of PyCharm. The community edition still lacks some of the advanced features provided by the professional editions.

JetBrains has been updating both editions of the Python IDE to make programmers more productive and simplify custom software development. For instance, the professional edition of PyCharm 2017.3 makes it easier for developers to test functionality of APIs by providing a built-in REST client. Likewise, it accelerates web application development by allowing programmers to avail the new features provided by Django 2.0. Also, it allows developers to visualize and analyze data more efficiently through a data science mode.