When it comes to Python development, the right IDE makes all the difference. Two popular options among Python programmers are PyCharm and VS Code. PyCharm from JetBrains is known for its powerful features and intuitive interface, while Microsoft Visual Studio Code boasts flexibility and customizability.
Both IDEs provide a range of functionalities and extensions that can make development more efficient and enjoyable. In this article, we’ll compare their differences so you can decide which is best suited for your projects.
PyCharm vs. VS Code: Side-By-Side Comparison
| Feature | PyCharm | VS Code |
|---|---|---|
| Supported Languages | Primarily used for Python development but also supports other languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. | Supports multiple programming languages like Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, and more. |
| User Interface | Has a more cluttered interface, which may take some time to get used to. | Has a minimalistic interface that is easier to navigate and customize. |
| Performance | Tends to be slower and heavier on resources due to its extensive feature set. | Lightweight and faster, suitable for low-powered systems. |
| Debugging | Offers extensive debugging tools, including debugging remote applications and Docker containers. | Also offers debugging features, but not as extensive as PyCharm. |
| Collaboration | Offers better collaboration features, including remote development and pair programming. | Has collaborative coding features but may require additional extensions to achieve the same level of collaboration as PyCharm. |
| Cost | Has a free community edition and a paid professional edition with more features. | Completely free and open-source. |
- Master basic to advanced PyCharm concepts to enhance your Python projects
- Provides practical examples to facilitate application development with PyCharm
- Learn about code automation, GUI testing and debugging, and how to manage virtual environments
- Discover PyCharm functionalities that support applications in web development and data science
- Explore how the Django framework integrates with PyCharm for web development
PyCharm vs. VS Code: What’s the Difference?
Selecting between PyCharm and VS Code is an important decision. If you’re considering upgrading from one to another, this comprehensive guide will highlight the major differences between them to decide which development tool best meets your needs.
User Interface and Features
PyCharm’s user interface is well-designed with plenty of features, making it a great IDE for developers. It includes useful capabilities like refactoring, code navigation, debugging, and code completion. Plus, it includes plugins to further enhance the development experience. This includes integrating version control systems like Git, Mercurial, or Subversion. Moreover, PyCharm also comes equipped with a package manager to assist developers in managing and installing packages.
VS Code has an intuitive user interface and is packed with features that simplify coding. It includes syntax highlighting, intelligent code completion, and debugging support. Plus, it boasts an expansive library of plugins for version control systems, integrated terminals, and advanced debugging tools. Furthermore, VS Code includes an embedded task runner so developers can easily automate tasks and workflows.
Performance
PyCharm is a powerful IDE requiring considerable memory and processing power. This may cause it to run slowly when loading large projects or performing intensive tasks. However, PyCharm has several features designed for performance improvements, such as intelligent indexing and caching, which accelerate code navigation and analysis.
VS Code is a lightweight IDE designed to use fewer system resources than PyCharm. As such, it is faster when loading projects and running intensive tasks than PyCharm. Furthermore, VS Code boasts features like multi-process architecture which enables parallel execution of tasks for faster coding efficiency.
Language Support
PyCharm was specifically designed with Python development in mind, providing extensive support for the language. It features syntax highlighting, code completion, navigation and debugging, and support for popular Python frameworks like Django, Flask, and Pyramid. Furthermore, PyCharm supports other languages like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, making it a versatile IDE ideal for web development projects.
VS Code is a multi-language IDE designed to support various programming languages, such as Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, and Go. It boasts features like syntax highlighting, code completion, and debugging for each of these languages. Furthermore, it integrates with numerous frameworks and libraries like React, Angular, and Vue.js.
Collaboration
PyCharm offers several features designed to facilitate collaboration among developers. It supports version control systems like Git, Mercurial, and Subversion, code review, and pair programming tools. It integrates with popular project management programs like Jira, Trello, and YouTrack.
VS Code is packed with features designed to make collaboration on projects effortless. It also supports version control systems like Git and GitHub and provides built-in code review and pair programming assistance. Furthermore, it integrates with various project management tools like Azure Boards, Trello, and Asana.
Ease of Use and Learning Curve
PyCharm is an advanced IDE that offers a range of features and tools, making it suitable for experienced developers. However, the learning curve for PyCharm can be steep, so new users may require some time to get used to the IDE. Furthermore, some may find the interface cluttered and overwhelming if they are used to more lightweight text editors.
VS Code is an intuitive and lightweight IDE designed for new developers, offering a range of features yet keeping its interface uncluttered and straightforward to use. Furthermore, the IDE provides excellent documentation and tutorials to quickly get users up to speed with its use.
Community and Support
PyCharm boasts an enthusiastic user base, offering numerous resources to quickly get developers up and running with the IDE. Its support team offers documentation, forums, and tutorials to assist users with any problems they might face. Furthermore, PyCharm boasts a range of plugins and extensions developed and maintained by its community — allowing users to customize the IDE according to their individual requirements.
VS Code boasts an expansive and engaged community of users and plenty of resources to get developers up and running quickly with the IDE. Its dedicated support team also offers documentation, forums, and tutorials for any issues users face. In addition, numerous extensions and plugins developed and maintained by users within VS Code enable customization according to individual needs.
Code Completion and Highlighting
Code completion and highlighting are essential features in any integrated development environment (IDE). PyCharm and VS Code take different approaches to these features, so understanding their distinctions can help you select the ideal IDE for your requirements.
PyCharm offers unparalleled code completion and highlighting capabilities for Python developers. The IDE utilizes intelligent code analysis to offer precise suggestions, saving developers valuable time. Moreover, PyCharm’s code highlighting feature allows developers to identify syntax errors in their code – an invaluable aid when debugging problems.
VS Code offers excellent code completion and highlighting features, but they’re less advanced than PyCharm’s. VS Code’s IntelliSense provides suggestions based on the type of code being written. It can be quite accurate at predicting what the developer intends to create. However, it’s still not quite up to par with PyCharm’s intelligent code completion feature.
Code Management
Code management is another essential feature of any IDE, and PyCharm and VS Code also take different approaches to this area.
PyCharm offers an integrated set of tools for code management. The IDE supports version control systems like Git and provides code navigation, refactoring, and analysis features. Furthermore, PyCharm features an integrated debugger that helps developers identify and fix program bugs.
VS Code offers support for version control systems like Git but doesn’t offer as many code management tools as PyCharm does. Although its code navigation capabilities are somewhat limited compared to PyCharm’s, VS Code still lacks advanced debugger support; developers can utilize third-party debuggers with the IDE instead.
Refactoring
Refactoring is the practice of improving code quality without altering its functionality. Both PyCharm and VS Code offer refactoring tools, but their approaches differ regarding this feature.
PyCharm offers developers an impressive set of refactoring tools to improve their code quality. The integrated tool for detecting and fixing code smells and features like rename, extract, and inline make refactoring code easy. In addition, these refactoring tools are intelligent enough to automatically identify and fix bugs in code as you work on it.
VS Code provides some refactoring tools, which are less sophisticated than pycharms. The IDE offers basic functions like rename, extract, and inline but lacks sophisticated options for detecting code smells. Furthermore, the refactoring algorithms offered by VS Code are less intelligent than those provided by PyCharm; developers may need to manually fix bugs in their code.
- Master VS Code editing, formatting, navigation, and deployment
- Learn how to develop web APIs in VS Code using Node.js, Java, and Python
- Explore how VS Code integrates with Microsoft Azure
- Increase productivity by learning to create your own custom extensions
- Acquire new debugging strategies such as breakpoints and data inspection
PyCharm vs. VS Code: 9 Must-Know Facts
- JetBrains developed PyCharm, while Microsoft created Visual Studio Code.
- PyCharm is an advanced integrated development environment (IDE) tailored specifically for Python development, while VS Code offers a lightweight code editor compatible with numerous programming languages — including Python.
- PyCharm boasts more features, such as a debugger, profiler, and test runner that come standard, while VS Code requires extensions to access these tools.
- PyCharm is a commercial product and requires a paid license for full functionality, while VS Code is open-source and free to use.
- PyCharm boasts more powerful code completion and navigation features, while VS Code relies heavily on extensions to offer similar capabilities.
- PyCharm can have a more challenging learning curve, particularly for new users, while VS Code is simpler to pick up and begin using right away.
- PyCharm has a larger footprint and may take longer to boot up, while VS Code is lightweight and quicker to get going.
- PyCharm boasts better integration with Python frameworks such as Django, Flask, and Pyramid than VS Code does; VS Code requires extensions for similar capabilities.
- PyCharm provides superior remote development support, including debugging and deployment capabilities, while VS Code requires extensions for similar capabilities.
PyCharm vs. VS Code: Which One Should You Use?
Selecting between PyCharm and VS Code depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you require an all-inclusive IDE with comprehensive features for Python development, PyCharm may be the better option. Its intelligent coding assistance, debugging capabilities, and support for scientific libraries make it ideal for professional developers.
On the other hand, VS Code may be your ideal code editor if you prefer something lightweight and customizable with a large user base of extensions and users. With its built-in Git support, IntelliSense feature, and ease of integration with various programming languages and frameworks, it has become popular among developers of all levels.
Finally, when selecting an IDE or code editor for Python development, it’s essential to take into account your priorities and workflow. Both PyCharm and VS Code have their advantages and disadvantages, but both can be highly effective tools. Whether you are just starting out or have extensive development experience, finding the right tool for your needs will streamline your processes and increase productivity.
- $43.99Buy Now
- Master basic to advanced PyCharm concepts to enhance your Python projects
- Provides practical examples to facilitate application development with PyCharm
- Learn about code automation, GUI testing and debugging, and how to manage virtual environments
- Discover PyCharm functionalities that support applications in web development and data science
- Explore how the Django framework integrates with PyCharm for web development
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- Master VS Code editing, formatting, navigation, and deployment
- Learn how to develop web APIs in VS Code using Node.js, Java, and Python
- Explore how VS Code integrates with Microsoft Azure
- Increase productivity by learning to create your own custom extensions
- Acquire new debugging strategies such as breakpoints and data inspection
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
11/26/2023 10:47 pm GMT
