PyCharm by JetBrains - Detailed Review
Coding Tools
PyCharm by JetBrains - Product Overview
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Primary Function
PyCharm is intended to provide a productive and convenient environment for Python developers. It supports a wide range of development needs, including pure Python coding, web development, and data science projects. The IDE offers a suite of tools that help developers write, edit, and debug their code efficiently.
Target Audience
PyCharm is targeted at both professional and amateur Python developers. It is particularly useful for those involved in web development, data science, and scientific computing. The IDE caters to the needs of individual developers as well as organizations, making it a versatile tool for various development scenarios.
Key Features
General Features
- Code Analysis and Assistance: PyCharm provides code completion, syntax and error highlighting, linter integration, and quick fixes to help developers write clean and efficient code.
- Debugging and Testing: It includes an integrated Python debugger and unit testing capabilities with line-by-line coverage.
- Project and Code Navigation: The IDE offers specialized project views, file structure views, and quick jumping between files, classes, methods, and usages.
- Version Control Integration: PyCharm supports integration with version control systems like Git, Mercurial, Subversion, Perforce, and CVS, along with GitHub and GitLab hosting services.
Professional Edition Features
- Web Development: The Professional Edition provides special support for web frameworks such as Django, Flask, FastAPI, and Pyramid, along with CSS and JavaScript assistance.
- Scientific Tools: It integrates with Jupyter Notebook and supports scientific packages like Matplotlib and NumPy. It also includes support for Anaconda and other big data tools.
- Database Utilities: The Professional Edition includes SQL and database utilities, enhancing its capabilities for database-driven projects.
- Additional Frameworks and Languages: It supports additional languages and frameworks such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and more, through built-in plugins or additional installations.
Community Edition Features
- While less extensive than the Professional Edition, the Community Edition still offers coding assistance, refactorings, visual debugging, and version control integration, making it a solid choice for smart and intelligent Python development.
In summary, PyCharm is a powerful IDE that caters to a broad range of Python development needs, from basic coding to advanced web and data science projects, making it an essential tool for any Python developer.
PyCharm by JetBrains - User Interface and Experience
The User Interface of PyCharm
The user interface of PyCharm, developed by JetBrains, is designed to be intuitive, efficient, and visually appealing, making it a powerful tool for Python developers.Main Interface Elements
When you open a project in PyCharm, the main window is divided into several key areas:Window Header
This contains widgets for quick access to popular actions such as project management, version control (VCS), and run/debug configurations. It also provides access to features like Code With Me, Search Everywhere, and Settings.
Project Tool Window
Located on the left side, this window displays your project files and directories, allowing easy access to your project structure.
Editor
On the right side, the editor is where you write your code. It includes tabs for navigating between open files and a gutter that shows breakpoints, line numbers, and per-line VCS history.
Navigation Bar
This bar helps you quickly navigate through project folders and files.
Tool Windows
These specialized windows are attached to the sides and bottom of the workspace, providing access to tasks like project management, source code search, version control integration, running, testing, and debugging.
New UI Features
PyCharm has introduced a new user interface (UI) that aims to reduce visual complexity and provide easy access to essential features:Simplified Main Toolbar
The new UI includes a streamlined main toolbar that simplifies the layout and makes frequently used actions more accessible.
Tool Window Layout
The tool windows can be rearranged to suit your workflow. You can drag them to display vertically or horizontally and use shortcuts like `Ctrl Shift F12` (or `Command Shift F12` on macOS) to hide all tool windows.
Themes and Icons
The new UI offers improved Light, Dark, and Light with Light Header themes with enhanced contrast and a consistent color palette. A new icon set is also introduced for better legibility and visual balance.
Ease of Use
PyCharm is designed to be user-friendly:Customization
You can customize the toolbar by adding frequently used actions for quick access. This is done by right-clicking on the main toolbar and selecting the desired action.
Project Management
The new UI helps you distinguish between multiple projects easily by allowing you to change the project color from the toolbar.
Code Assistance
PyCharm features code completion, smart type-matching completion, and other coding capabilities that help you create error-free applications efficiently.
Overall User Experience
The overall user experience in PyCharm is enhanced by several features:Code Inspections
PyCharm constantly monitors the quality of your code by running inspections, providing real-time feedback on your code’s status.
Search and Navigation
The IDE offers powerful search facilities, including basic search, search for usages, and project navigation features that help you find what you need quickly.
Keyboard-Centric Approach
PyCharm supports a wide range of keyboard shortcuts, allowing you to perform nearly all actions without leaving the keyboard. You can also customize keymaps to fit your preferences.
In summary, PyCharm’s user interface is streamlined, customizable, and designed to make development more efficient and enjoyable. Its features are aimed at reducing clutter and providing easy access to essential tools, making it a highly effective coding environment. PyCharm by JetBrains - Key Features and Functionality
PyCharm Overview
PyCharm, developed by JetBrains, is a comprehensive Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that offers a wide range of features and tools to enhance Python development. Here are the main features, including how AI is integrated into the product:
Intelligent Code Editor
PyCharm features a smart code editor that facilitates writing high-quality Python code. It includes syntax and error highlighting, code completion, and linter integration. The editor suggests instructions for completing the current code, identifies errors, and provides quick fixes, making writing and debugging code much more efficient.
Coding Assistance
The IDE provides smart code completion, code inspections, on-the-fly error highlighting, and quick-fixes. It also offers automated code refactorings and rich navigation capabilities. For example, you can select a block of code and expand it into various expressions, and use shortcuts to comment or uncomment lines. The code formatter ensures your code adheres to standards like PEP-8 for Python.
AI Assistant Integration
PyCharm’s AI Assistant, powered by AI, offers several advanced features. To use it, you need to install the AI Assistant plugin and acquire a JetBrains AI Service license. Here are some key AI-driven features:
- Code Explanations and Suggestions: The AI Assistant can explain code fragments, answer questions about the code, and provide code suggestions. It can also generate documentation and commit messages.
- Commit Message Generation: The AI Assistant can generate commit messages describing your changes, which can be customized according to specific rules.
- Summarize Commits: It can summarize the changes made in one or several commits, helping you quickly grasp the modifications.
- Generate Titles and Descriptions for Pull and Merge Requests: The AI Assistant can generate titles and descriptions for pull requests and merge requests directly from PyCharm.
- Resolve Git Conflicts: The AI Assistant can help merge conflicting changes in Git, making it easier to resolve conflicts when multiple contributors are working on the same codebase.
Version Control Systems (VCS) Integration
PyCharm integrates with various version control systems such as Git, SVN, Mercurial, Perforce, and Subversion. This integration allows you to manage local changes, apply complex branch operations, and track any changes made to your source files. The AI Assistant can also aid in generating commit messages and resolving Git conflicts.
Debugging and Testing Tools
The IDE includes an integrated debugger and test runner. The debugger shows live debugging data directly in the editor, and you can step through your code while bypassing library sources. PyCharm also supports unit testing with frameworks like doctests, nose, and attest, and integrates with Coverage.py for measuring code coverage.
Remote Development
PyCharm allows you to run, debug, test, and deploy applications on remote hosts or virtual machines. It offers integrated SSH terminals, Docker and Vagrant integration, and remote interpreters. This feature is particularly useful for working on projects that require different environments.
Database Tools
PyCharm provides extensive database tools, allowing you to edit SQL code, browse data, alter schemas, and run queries. It supports various databases such as Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and MySQL. The SQL code can be injected into other languages or edited in the SQL Editor with syntax highlighting and smart code completion.
Project and Code Navigation
The IDE offers advanced navigation features, including the ability to jump between classes, files, and methods quickly. The lens mode allows thorough inspection and debugging of the entire Python source code. File structure views and specialized project views are also available.
Refactoring
PyCharm’s refactoring feature helps improve the internal structure of a Python program without affecting its external performance. It includes features like introducing constants or variables, pulling up or pushing down methods, and renaming elements. These refactoring tools make it efficient to make changes to both local and global variables.
Live Editing and Web Development
PyCharm supports live editing for web development, allowing you to create or modify web pages and see the changes in real-time on a web browser. It also supports popular web frameworks like Django, Flask, Pyramid, and web2py.
Conclusion
In summary, PyCharm is a powerful IDE that combines traditional coding tools with AI-driven features to enhance productivity, code quality, and overall development experience. Its extensive set of features makes it a versatile tool for Python developers.
PyCharm by JetBrains - Performance and Accuracy
Evaluating the Performance and Accuracy of PyCharm
Evaluating the performance and accuracy of PyCharm by JetBrains in the Coding Tools AI-driven product category involves several key aspects.
Performance
PyCharm 2024.2 and subsequent versions have introduced several performance enhancements:
- AI Assistant Improvements: The JetBrains AI Assistant in PyCharm 2024.2 offers faster and more accurate code completion suggestions, enhanced by the latest GPT-4o model. This includes better syntax highlighting and the ability to accept suggestions incrementally, which significantly improves the coding experience.
- Databricks Integration: Direct integration with Databricks allows for efficient execution of scripts and notebooks, monitoring progress, and executing files directly in a Spark shell on a cluster, all within the IDE. This integration streamlines the workflow and enhances productivity.
- Profiling Tools: PyCharm provides robust profiling tools to identify bugs, bottlenecks, and diagnose poor performance. It supports various profilers like cProfile, yappi, and vmprof, helping developers optimize their code efficiently.
- HTTP Client Enhancements: Upgrades to the HTTP Client, including the use of GraalJS and additions like XPath functionality and JSONPath support, improve the performance and functionality of testing endpoints and handling results.
Accuracy
PyCharm is known for its high accuracy in various coding tasks:
- Code Completion and Suggestions: The AI-driven code completion in PyCharm is highly accurate, providing relevant suggestions based on the context. This includes Hugging Face model suggestions and automatic dependency installation, which ensure that the code is correct and functional.
- Code Quality and Inspections: PyCharm offers comprehensive code inspections that highlight coding style violations, syntax errors, and other issues. It supports PEP 8 inspections and can automatically reformat code to adhere to these standards, ensuring high code quality.
- Debugging and Visualization: The IDE provides advanced debugging tools, including string variable visualizers for JSON, XML, and other formats, which make it easier to debug and understand complex data. Additionally, features like one-click dataframe visualization enhance the accuracy of data analysis.
- AI Cells in Jupyter Notebooks: The integration of AI cells in Jupyter notebooks allows for accurate and context-specific suggestions during data analysis workflows, improving the overall accuracy of the analysis.
Limitations and Areas for Improvement
Despite its strong performance and accuracy, there are some limitations and areas where PyCharm could improve:
- Learning Curve: PyCharm can be time-consuming to learn, especially for beginners. The extensive features and functionalities, while powerful, can be overwhelming for new users.
- Cost: The Professional version of PyCharm is expensive, which can be a barrier for many developers. The Community version, while free, has limited features compared to the Professional version.
- Resource Intensive: PyCharm requires significant storage space and can sometimes lag on certain systems, which might affect performance.
- Beginner Accessibility: While PyCharm is highly beneficial for experienced developers, it may not add much value for basic scripting or beginner-level projects. Beginners might find the free version’s limitations and the learning curve challenging.
In summary, PyCharm excels in performance and accuracy with its advanced AI-driven features, comprehensive code inspections, and robust profiling tools. However, it faces challenges in terms of its learning curve, cost, and resource requirements, which can be significant barriers for some users.
PyCharm by JetBrains - Pricing and Plans
Pricing Plans
PyCharm by JetBrains offers several pricing plans to cater to different user needs, whether you are an individual, a student, or part of an organization.
Individual Use
- The Individual plan costs $99 per year for the first year, with discounts in subsequent years: $79 for the second year and $59 for the third year onwards.
Businesses and Organizations
- For businesses and organizations, the plan costs $249 per year for the first year, with discounts in subsequent years: $199 for the second year and $149 for the third year onwards.
All Products Pack
- There is also an “All Products Pack” option:
- For individuals, this pack costs $289 per year.
- For organizations, it costs $779 per year.
Special Offers and Free Options
- Free Community Edition: While not explicitly detailed in the sources, PyCharm typically offers a free Community Edition with limited features compared to the paid versions. This is often suitable for basic Python development and educational purposes.
- Student and Teacher Licenses: JetBrains provides free licenses for students and teachers, which can be accessed through their website.
Features
Each plan includes a range of features, but the more expensive plans generally offer more advanced and comprehensive tools:
- Basic Features: All plans include support for Python development, code completion, debugging, and version control integration.
- Advanced Features: Higher-tier plans add support for full-stack web development, data science tools, JavaScript, TypeScript, and more integrated features like Jupyter notebook support and advanced code analysis.
Free Trial
PyCharm also offers a free trial for all its paid plans, allowing users to test the features before committing to a purchase.
This structure allows users to choose a plan that best fits their needs and budget, whether they are individual developers or part of larger organizations.
PyCharm by JetBrains - Integration and Compatibility
PyCharm Overview
PyCharm, developed by JetBrains, is a versatile and highly integrated Python Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that offers extensive compatibility and integration with various tools and platforms.
Platform Compatibility
PyCharm is a cross-platform IDE, meaning it can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This broad compatibility ensures that developers can use PyCharm regardless of their preferred operating system.
Integration with Version Control Systems
PyCharm seamlessly integrates with popular version control systems such as Git, Mercurial, Perforce (in the Professional edition), and Subversion. This integration allows users to manage their source code directly from the IDE, including committing changes, creating changelists, and performing other VCS actions.
Database Support
PyCharm supports a wide range of database formats, including PostgreSQL, Oracle, MongoDB, and Redis. This built-in support enables developers to work with their chosen database tools directly within the IDE.
Web Frameworks and Technologies
The Professional edition of PyCharm provides extensive support for web frameworks like Django, Flask, and Pyramid. It also supports HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and XML, making it a comprehensive tool for web development.
Data Science and Big Data Tools
PyCharm Professional integrates well with big data frameworks such as Apache Spark and Apache Hadoop through the Big Data Tools plugin. This integration simplifies the development, debugging, and optimization of big data applications. Additionally, PyCharm supports scientific tools, including Jupyter Notebook integration, which is particularly useful for data science tasks.
AI and Machine Learning
PyCharm has become the official IDE for OpenCV, a significant library in the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision. This partnership enhances the efficiency and speed of project completion for developers working with OpenCV.
External Tools and Plugins
Users can configure third-party command-line applications as external tools within PyCharm. For example, tools like pylint can be integrated to enhance code validation features. PyCharm also supports a variety of plugins, such as the AI Assistant, Copilot, and OpenCV Image Viewer, which provide additional functionalities like real-time code suggestions, image processing, and more.
Remote Development
PyCharm Professional allows developers to run, debug, and test their Python code remotely. It supports deploying local applications to remote servers and synchronizing local and remote folders, which is beneficial for collaborative and distributed development environments.
Conclusion
In summary, PyCharm’s extensive integration capabilities and broad compatibility make it a highly versatile and powerful tool for Python developers across various platforms and use cases.
PyCharm by JetBrains - Customer Support and Resources
Customer Support Options
PyCharm offers a comprehensive support system to address various types of issues:
Technical Support
You can submit a technical support request through the JetBrains support website. Simply go to the “SUBMIT A REQUEST” tab, provide your email address, specify the product you’re using (in this case, PyCharm), and describe your question or problem in detail. The support team will respond to your request via email as quickly as possible.
Bug Tracker
If you encounter a bug, you can report it using PyCharm’s public bug tracker. Here, you can also look through issues reported by others, vote for them, and request new features. The developer team uses this tracker internally to prioritize and resolve issues.
Community Forum
The PyCharm community forum is a valuable resource where you can find answers to common questions and interact with other users. Check if someone has already addressed your issue before reaching out to support.
Social Media and Blog
PyCharm is active on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, as well as their blog. These channels are great for getting quick help, feedback, and staying updated on the latest features and announcements.
Additional Resources
To help you get the most out of PyCharm, several additional resources are available:
Online Documentation and Tutorials
PyCharm provides extensive online documentation, tutorials, keymap references, and online help. These resources include demo videos, webinars, and screencasts from their YouTube channel. The PyCharm Resources page is a central hub for accessing all these materials.
AI Assistant
For users who have the AI Assistant plugin installed and a JetBrains AI Service license, PyCharm offers AI-powered features such as code explanations, code suggestions, and documentation generation. This plugin is not enabled by default and requires explicit consent and a license.
Interactive Console and Data Processing
PyCharm includes an interactive Python console and supports data processing with tools like Anaconda and Jupyter Notebook integration. This is particularly useful for scientific and statistical data analysis.
Project Setup and Management
The quick start guide helps you create new projects, open existing ones, and manage your project environment effectively. It also covers how to use coding assistance, work with Git, and customize the appearance of the IDE.
By leveraging these support options and resources, you can efficiently resolve issues, enhance your coding experience, and maximize the benefits of using PyCharm.
PyCharm by JetBrains - Pros and Cons
Advantages of PyCharm
PyCharm, developed by JetBrains, offers several significant advantages that make it a popular choice among Python developers:
Intelligent Code Editor
PyCharm features a smart code editor that enhances code readability with color schemes, error highlighting, and smart code completion. This helps in detecting syntax errors quickly and improves overall code quality.
Productivity Tools
The IDE includes various productivity tools such as automated code refactorings, quick-fixes, and intention actions that simplify coding tasks. It also supports code folding, auto-insertion of braces and brackets, and matching brace/bracket highlighting.
Integration with Tools and Libraries
PyCharm integrates well with tools like Anaconda, IPython, Kite, Pylint, Pytest, and WakaTime, which are essential for scientific computing, data science, and machine learning projects. It also supports popular libraries like Pandas, Matplotlib, and Scikit-learn.
Ease of Use and Installation
Despite its advanced features, PyCharm is relatively easy to install and use. It offers customizable coding styles, automatic indents, and compliance with PEP-8 standards for Python.
Code Navigation and Refactoring
The IDE provides excellent code navigation features, allowing developers to easily locate elements, symbols, or variables in the source code. It also supports efficient refactoring of local or global variables without affecting the external performance of the code.
Remote Development and Database Support
PyCharm allows for remote development environments and supports SQL databases, interactive tables, and frameworks like Django, Flask, and FastAPI.
Disadvantages of PyCharm
While PyCharm is a powerful tool, it also has some notable disadvantages:
Learning Curve
PyCharm can be time-consuming to learn, especially for beginners. The extensive set of features, although beneficial, can be overwhelming for those new to Python or IDEs.
Cost
The professional version of PyCharm is quite expensive, which can be a significant barrier for many users. The community version, while free, has limited features compared to the professional version.
Limited Value for Basic Scripting
For basic scripting tasks, PyCharm may not add much value. The advanced features are more beneficial for complex projects, making it less ideal for simple scripting needs.
Autocomplete Feature for Beginners
The autocomplete feature, while helpful for experienced developers, can sometimes hinder the learning process for beginners by reducing the need to memorize syntax and commands.
In summary, PyCharm is a powerful IDE that offers a wide range of features to enhance productivity and code quality, but it may not be the best choice for beginners or those working on basic scripting tasks due to its cost and learning curve.
PyCharm by JetBrains - Comparison with Competitors
When Comparing PyCharm by JetBrains
When comparing PyCharm by JetBrains, particularly its AI-driven features, with other coding tools in the same category, several key aspects and alternatives come into focus.
PyCharm AI Assistant
PyCharm’s AI Assistant, integrated into the PyCharm IDE, utilizes JetBrains’ proprietary algorithms optimized for Python and other languages supported by the IDE. Here are some of its unique features:
- Context-Aware Suggestions: The AI Assistant provides suggestions that are highly context-aware, especially in larger codebases where understanding the project structure is crucial.
- Seamless Integration: It integrates seamlessly with the PyCharm IDE, reducing the need for context switching and enhancing productivity.
- Version Control and Testing: It offers robust support for version control systems and testing frameworks, making it a strong choice for teams already using JetBrains tools.
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot, powered by OpenAI’s Codex, is another prominent AI coding assistant:
- Broad Language Support: Copilot has a broader training dataset, allowing it to generate code snippets across various programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, Ruby, and C .
- Real-Time Code Completions: It offers advanced code autocompletion, automated code documentation generation, and AI-driven code review suggestions.
- Integration with Multiple IDEs: Copilot is available as an extension for multiple IDEs, including Visual Studio Code and JetBrains, though it may require some learning curve to adapt to its interface.
Gemini Code Assist
Gemini Code Assist, developed by Google, is another sophisticated AI coding assistant:
- Contextual Code Generation: It generates contextually relevant code snippets based on natural language descriptions and adapts to the developer’s coding style over time.
- Comprehensive Code Understanding: It offers clear explanations of complex code segments, assists with debugging, and includes source citations from documentation and open-source repositories.
- Seamless IDE Integration: It integrates with popular IDEs like VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA, and PyCharm, providing code refactoring suggestions to improve efficiency and maintainability.
Amazon CodeWhisperer
Amazon CodeWhisperer is another AI coding assistant that stands out:
- Intelligent Code Suggestions: It provides tailored code snippets, functions, and even entire classes based on the context within the code, saving time and reducing errors.
- Function Completion and Documentation: It simplifies workflows by suggesting subsequent lines or completing entire function bodies and generates comprehensive documentation automatically.
- Security Scanning: It proactively scans for potential security vulnerabilities in the code, ensuring projects are robust and secure.
Key Differences and Alternatives
- Integration and Ecosystem:
- PyCharm AI Assistant is tightly integrated with the JetBrains ecosystem, making it ideal for teams using other JetBrains tools.
- GitHub Copilot and Gemini Code Assist offer more versatility in terms of IDE integration but may require additional configuration.
- Code Generation Accuracy:
- PyCharm AI Assistant excels in context-aware suggestions, particularly in larger codebases.
- GitHub Copilot has a broader training dataset but may produce less relevant suggestions if the context is not clear.
- User Experience:
- PyCharm AI Assistant provides a seamless experience within the PyCharm IDE.
- GitHub Copilot and Gemini Code Assist offer more flexibility but may have a steeper learning curve.
Conclusion
Each of these AI coding assistants has unique strengths and areas of focus. Here’s a brief summary:
- PyCharm AI Assistant: Ideal for developers deeply integrated into the JetBrains ecosystem, especially those working with Python and larger codebases.
- GitHub Copilot: Suitable for developers needing broad language support and real-time code completions across multiple IDEs.
- Gemini Code Assist: Excellent for those who need comprehensive code understanding, debugging assistance, and seamless integration with various IDEs.
- Amazon CodeWhisperer: A good choice for developers looking for intelligent code suggestions, function completion, and automatic documentation generation, along with security scanning features.
Ultimately, the choice between these tools depends on the specific needs of the project, the development environment, and personal preference.
PyCharm by JetBrains - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about PyCharm
How do I install PyCharm on my Windows machine?
To install PyCharm on Windows, download the installer from the JetBrains website. Run the installer and follow the wizard steps. You will need to accept the User Agreement, select the installation location, choose the Start menu folder name, and select additional tasks such as creating a desktop shortcut and associating Python files with PyCharm. After installation, you can find PyCharm in the Windows Start menu or use the desktop shortcut if you created one.How do I install PyCharm using tar archives on a Linux system?
For a Linux system, you can install PyCharm using tar archives. Download the `pycharm-*.tar.gz` file and unpack it to a desired folder, such as `/opt` for compliance with the filesystem hierarchy standard (FHS). Use the command `sudo tar xzf pycharm-*.tar.gz -C /opt/` to unpack the archive. Then, switch to the `bin` subdirectory and run `pycharm.sh` to start PyCharm.What are the key sections on the PyCharm Welcome Screen?
When you open PyCharm for the first time, you are presented with the Welcome Screen, which has several key sections. The Learn PyCharm tab provides links to documentation and resources, including an interactive Feature Trainer. The Plugins tab allows you to install additional plugins like custom themes or keymaps. The Customize section lets you tweak common settings, such as changing the theme. Finally, the Projects tab enables you to create, open, or clone projects.Can I connect to a remote server from PyCharm?
Yes, you can connect to a remote server from PyCharm. This is facilitated by JetBrains Gateway, which allows you to create new environments or connect to existing ones. When you request an environment through JetBrains Gateway, it launches the JetBrains Client specific to that environment. All functionality available in JetBrains Gateway is also available in PyCharm.How do I install plugins in PyCharm, especially when working remotely?
You can install plugins in PyCharm the same way whether you are working locally or remotely. When working in JetBrains Client (for remote development), plugins are installed per project and are marked with the “On Host” label. You can search and install plugins from the Plugins tab on the Welcome Screen or from the settings within PyCharm.What is the AI Assistant in PyCharm and how does it work?
The AI Assistant in PyCharm provides AI-powered features for software development, such as explaining code, answering questions about code fragments, providing code suggestions, and generating documentation. This plugin is not bundled with PyCharm and requires a JetBrains AI Service license. You must give explicit consent to the JetBrains AI Terms of Service and Acceptable Use Policy when installing the plugin. The AI Assistant sends your requests and code fragments to a Large Language Model (LLM) provider to provide context.How do I verify the integrity of the PyCharm installer or archive?
To verify the integrity of the PyCharm installer or archive, use the SHA checksum linked from the Download page. For Windows, verify the SHA checksum of the installer before running it. For Linux, verify the SHA checksum of the tar archive before unpacking it.Can I use PyCharm without a JetBrains account?
While a JetBrains account is not strictly necessary to use PyCharm, you will need one to access certain features, especially if you are using the Professional Edition. On the first launch of PyCharm Professional, you will be asked to log into your JetBrains account or start a free 30-day evaluation. The Community Edition can be used without an account, but some features may be limited.How do I configure PyCharm to open Python files by default?
During the installation process, you can select the option to associate Python files (.py) with PyCharm. This will allow you to open Python files directly in PyCharm by double-clicking them. If you missed this step during installation, you can configure this association manually through your operating system’s file type settings.What keyboard bindings are active during a remote session in PyCharm?
Any shortcuts set in JetBrains Client are supported both locally and remotely during a remote session. This ensures a consistent development experience whether you are working locally or remotely. PyCharm by JetBrains - Conclusion and Recommendation
Final Assessment of PyCharm by JetBrains
PyCharm, developed by JetBrains, stands out as a comprehensive and highly efficient Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Python developers. Here’s a detailed assessment of its features, benefits, and who would most benefit from using it.Key Features
Intelligent Code Editor
PyCharm offers a smart code editor with features like code completion, syntax and error highlighting, and linter integration, making it easier to write high-quality Python code.
Integration Tools
It supports a wide range of tools, including version control systems (Git, SVN, Mercurial, etc.), Docker, Vagrant, and popular Python web frameworks like Django, Flask, and Pyramid.
Debugging and Testing
PyCharm includes an integrated Python debugger and supports unit testing with frameworks like doctests, nose, and attest. It also offers thread concurrency visualization and live editing capabilities.
Refactoring and Code Management
The IDE provides powerful refactoring tools, code generation, and code reference information, which help in improving the internal structure of Python programs without affecting their external performance.
Remote Development
Developers can run, debug, test, and deploy applications on remote hosts or virtual machines using integrated SSH terminals, Docker, and Vagrant.
AI Assistant
The latest versions of PyCharm include AI-driven features such as natural language prompts, code completion, and the ability to run code in the AI Chat window, enhancing productivity.
Benefits
Productivity Increase
PyCharm users report a 20% to 35% increase in productivity compared to using other IDEs or text editors. This is due to features like automated routine tasks, intelligent support, and efficient error fixing.
Cost-Effective
The cost of PyCharm is relatively low, especially considering the significant time savings it offers. For example, the commercial license is priced at $199 for the first year, which translates to about $0.76 per working day.
Community and Support
PyCharm enjoys excellent community support and is widely used by professional Python developers. Companies like Twitter, Pinterest, and Hewlett-Packard rely on PyCharm for their development needs.
Who Would Benefit Most
PyCharm is particularly beneficial for:
Professional Python Developers
Those working on large-scale projects or requiring advanced features like web development support, version control integration, and robust debugging tools will find PyCharm invaluable.
Data Scientists
With its support for data science projects and integration with various tools, PyCharm is a strong choice for data scientists who need to work efficiently with Python.
Web Developers
Developers using Python web frameworks like Django, Flask, and Pyramid will appreciate the specific features and support PyCharm offers for these frameworks.
Overall Recommendation
PyCharm is an excellent choice for anyone serious about Python development. Its extensive set of features, including intelligent code editing, comprehensive debugging tools, and integration with various development frameworks, make it a powerful tool for enhancing productivity and code quality.
For those considering an IDE for Python development, PyCharm’s benefits in terms of productivity, cost-effectiveness, and community support make it a highly recommended option. Whether you are a professional developer, a data scientist, or a web developer, PyCharm has the tools and features to help you work more efficiently and effectively.