Let's begin by discussing the topic of the book—PyCharm. First, we will discuss the Python language as it is the only reason why you would choose to use PyCharm in the first place. After this, it is important to start the conversation about PyCharm by pointing out the fact that there are considerable discussions surrounding the question of whether it is appropriate to use an IDE for Python programming.

Unlike many other programming languages, Python (as you already know) can be edited using just a simple text editor, due to the simplicity and readability of the code. You can then instruct a Python interpreter to execute a text file containing Python code and a Python program is thus complete.

Why would we want to use a heavy and complex IDE for Python to achieve the same result? In the following subsections, we will address this question by...

In 2017, the Python Developers Survey (conducted by the Python Software Foundation and JetBrains) found that PyCharm is indeed the most popular development tool among all Python programmers in terms of editors and IDEs.

As observed from the Editors and IDEs section in the survey, both editions of PyCharm top the result poll for the question—what is the main editor you use for your current Python development? The results of the survey outlined that 17% of all developers used the Professional Edition and 15% used the Community Edition.

As we mentioned earlier, two of the largest subgroups in the Python community are web developers and scientific programmers. If we looked at editor/IDE use in these subgroups...

We laid out several features of PyCharm in earlier sections, but it might be beneficial to repeat some of them here in comparison to other editors and IDEs in order to truly highlight the differences among them. We will start by looking at PyCharm and another powerful Python IDE (Spyder) side by side, since they generally set out to solve the same set of problems, and therefore, hold significant similarities.

In general, Spyder, like many other editors and IDEs, is a lightweight development environment. This results in less memory space, fewer system resources, and better speed in starting the software. PyCharm, on the other hand, comes as a fully supported IDE with a large set of functionalities, which will be heavier in storage and slower in execution.

In terms of support, Spyder has a simpler UI (which resembles that of MATLAB...

In this section, I will outline a number of the biggest differences between the two editions of PyCharm that are currently available and discuss the benefits of each edition with regard to different Python programmer subgroups.

Before you ask, yes, there are two editions of PyCharm—a free and a paid edition. The Community Edition is entirely free to download; in fact, as mentioned, JetBrains actually made the source code of the Community Edition available on GitHub in 2013.

The Professional Edition, on the other hand, has to be purchased; a license...

In this chapter, we introduced the Python language itself, as well as the background behind Python IDEs in general, and specifically, PyCharm.

We also discussed the usability of PyCharm for Python programmers. Specifically, to be able to take full advantage of all the features and functionalities that PyCharm offers without becoming too dependent on the IDE, a programmer should first master the fundamentals of the Python language and its core syntax. We also looked at comparisons between PyCharm itself and various other Python editors/IDEs and the reason why PyCharm is considered the best development environment of them all.

Finally, we compared the two editions of PyCharm that are available for download: the paid Professional Edition and the free Community Edition. If you are working with large, complex projects with many moving parts (including database management, web...

1. Programmers typically develop their code with an editor or an IDE. What is the difference between the two, and which one is PyCharm?
2. Why do some think that an IDE for Python development might be inappropriate or unnecessary?
3. What is the recommended strategy for using an IDE for Python development?
4. What are some key features of PyCharm? Of those features, which give PyCharm an edge over other editors/IDEs?
5. What are the two editions of PyCharm? What are the key differences between them?
6. Who should use the Community Edition of PyCharm? Who should use the Professional Edition of PyCharm?

For more information, you can refer to the following literature:

• PyCharm, The Python IDE for Professional Developers, JetBrains s.r.o. (https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/)
• Text Editors vs IDEs for Python development: Selecting the Right Tool, by Jason Fruit, (https://www.pythoncentral.io/text-editors-vs-ides-for-python-development-selecting-the-right-tool/)
• Mastering PyCharm, Quazi Nafiul Islam, by Packt Publishing (https://www.packtpub.com/in/web-development/mastering-pycharm)
• Python Developers Survey 2017 Results, JetBrains s.r.o. (https://www.jetbrains.com/research/python-developers-survey-2017/)
• How does PyCharm match up against competing tools?, JetBrains s.r.o. (https://resources.jetbrains.com/storage/products/pycharm/docs/Comparisons_PyCharm.pdf)