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Eclipse with PyDev VS iPython

Compare Eclipse with PyDev VS iPython and see what are their differences

Eclipse with PyDev logo Eclipse with PyDev

PyDev Manual

iPython logo iPython

iPython provides a rich toolkit to help you make the most out of using Python interactively.
  • Eclipse with PyDev Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-25
  • iPython Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-07

Eclipse with PyDev features and specs

  • Feature-rich IDE
    Eclipse with PyDev offers a comprehensive set of features including code completion, syntax highlighting, code analysis, refactoring tools, and an integrated debugger, making it a powerful environment for Python development.
  • Free and open source
    Both Eclipse and the PyDev plugin are completely free and open source, making it an attractive option for developers and organizations that want a full-featured IDE without licensing costs.
  • Multi-language support
    Since Eclipse is a general-purpose IDE, developers working with multiple languages (Java, C++, Python, etc.) can use a single IDE for all their projects, reducing the need to switch between different tools.
  • Strong debugging capabilities
    PyDev provides an excellent interactive debugger with support for remote debugging, conditional breakpoints, variable watching, and Django template debugging, which aids in efficient troubleshooting and development.
  • Extensible plugin ecosystem
    Eclipse has a vast ecosystem of plugins that can extend its functionality beyond Python development, including version control integration (Git, SVN), database tools, and project management features, all within a single workspace.

Possible disadvantages of Eclipse with PyDev

  • High memory and resource consumption
    Eclipse is known for being resource-heavy, consuming significant amounts of RAM and CPU. This can lead to sluggish performance, especially on older or less powerful machines, making it less ideal for lightweight development tasks.
  • Steep learning curve
    Eclipse's interface can be overwhelming for beginners due to its complex workspace configuration, numerous settings, and perspective-based layout. Setting up PyDev correctly and configuring interpreters adds additional complexity.
  • Slower startup and responsiveness
    Compared to modern lightweight editors like VS Code or dedicated Python IDEs like PyCharm, Eclipse with PyDev tends to have noticeably slower startup times and can feel less responsive during everyday coding tasks.
  • Dated user interface
    Eclipse's UI looks and feels outdated compared to more modern IDEs and editors. The interface design has not kept pace with contemporary design trends, which can make the development experience feel less polished and intuitive.
  • Declining community and ecosystem relevance
    The Python development community has largely shifted toward tools like VS Code and PyCharm, meaning fewer tutorials, community resources, and active plugin development are focused on PyDev compared to its competitors.

iPython features and specs

  • Interactive Computing
    IPython provides a rich toolkit to help you make the most out of using Python interactively. This includes powerful introspection, rich media display, session logging, and more.
  • Ease of Use
    IPython includes features like syntax highlighting, tab completion, and easy access to the help system, which make writing and understanding code easier for users.
  • Rich Display System
    It supports rich media like images, videos, LaTeX, and HTML, making it very useful for data visualization and educational purposes.
  • Extensibility
    IPython is highly extensible and can be customized with a range of plugins, extensions, and different backends to suit various needs.
  • Enhanced Debugging
    It features enhanced debugging capabilities, including an improved traceback support and better handling of exceptions.

Possible disadvantages of iPython

  • Learning Curve
    For beginners, the extensive feature set of IPython may be overwhelming and have a steep learning curve.
  • Resource Intensive
    IPython, particularly Jupyter notebooks, can be resource-intensive, leading to slow performance on large datasets or complex computations.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies can be challenging, especially when using multiple packages in the same environment, which can lead to conflicts.
  • Limited IDE Features
    While IPython has many interactive features, it lacks some of the more advanced IDE features such as comprehensive code refactoring tools and integrated version control.
  • Exporting and Sharing
    Although you can export notebooks in various formats, sharing them in a way that preserves full interactivity can be complex compared to traditional scripts.

Analysis of Eclipse with PyDev

Overall verdict

  • Eclipse with PyDev is a solid, free, open-source choice for Python development, especially for developers who already use Eclipse for other languages or need a mature, feature-rich IDE without licensing costs. While it may feel heavier and less Python-centric than dedicated tools like PyCharm, it remains a capable and reliable option.

Why this product is good

  • Free and open-source, making it accessible to individuals, students, and organizations with tight budgets
  • Deep integration with Eclipse's ecosystem, allowing seamless multi-language development (Java, C++, Python) in one environment
  • Supports code completion, debugging, refactoring, and code analysis for Python
  • Strong support for Django development and virtual environments
  • Active community and long development history, so it's well-tested and stable
  • Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
  • Good integration with version control systems like Git and SVN through Eclipse plugins

Recommended for

  • Developers already using Eclipse for Java or other languages who want to add Python support
  • Teams working on polyglot projects requiring multiple language support in a single IDE
  • Students and educators looking for a free, robust IDE
  • Open-source enthusiasts who prefer community-driven tools over commercial products
  • Developers on a budget who need professional-grade features without a subscription cost
  • Those who value customization and plugin extensibility within a broader IDE framework

Analysis of iPython

Overall verdict

  • Yes, iPython is highly regarded for its flexibility, powerful features, and ability to enhance productivity in data analysis and scientific computing. It serves as an integral tool for many professionals in technical fields.

Why this product is good

  • iPython, which forms the backbone of the Jupyter ecosystem, is favored for its interactive capabilities, integration with various data science libraries, and support for visualizations. It allows seamless execution of code in a web-based environment, making it highly effective for experiments, rapid prototyping, and sharing insights.

Recommended for

  • Data Scientists
  • Researchers
  • Educators
  • Software Developers
  • Anyone interested in interactive and exploratory computing

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Eclipse with PyDev and iPython)
IDE
18 18%
82% 82
Text Editors
9 9%
91% 91
Python IDE
10 10%
90% 90
Data Science IDE
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, iPython seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 20 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Eclipse with PyDev mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Eclipse with PyDev yet. Tracking of Eclipse with PyDev recommendations started around Mar 2021.

iPython mentions (20)

  • Top 5 GitHub Repositories for Data Science in 2026
    The book introduces the core libraries essential for working with data in Python: particularly IPython, NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Scikit-Learn, and related packages Familiarity with Python as a language is assumed; if you need a quick introduction to the language itself, see the free companion project, Aโ€ฆ. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Modern Python REPL in Emacs using VTerm
    As alluded to in Poetry2Nix Development Flake with Matplotlib GTK Support, Iโ€™m currently in the process of getting my โ€œnewโ€ python workflow up to speed. My second problem, after dependency and environment management, was that fancy REPLs like ipython or ptpython donโ€™t jazz well with the standard comint based inferior python repl that comes with python-mode. One can basically only run ipython with the... - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Wanting to learn how to code, but completely lost.
    Third, if possible use a command line interpreter to test things out. I recommend ipython for this purpose. You can use your browser's developer console this way if you are learning Javascript. Source: over 3 years ago
  • IJulia: The Julia Notebook
    IJulia is an interactive notebook environment powered by the Julia programming language. Its backend is integrated with that of the Jupyter environment. The interface is web-based, similar to the iPython notebook. It is open-source and cross-platform. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
  • How to "end" a loop in the REPL?
    Also, take a look at installing iPthon to give you a much richer shell environment. This underpins Jupyter Notebooks, so is well known, proven and trusted. Source: over 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Eclipse with PyDev and iPython, you can also consider the following products

PyScripter - PyScripter is a free and open-source Python Integrated Development Environment (IDE) created with...

Jupyter - Project Jupyter exists to develop open-source software, open-standards, and services for interactive computing across dozens of programming languages. Ready to get started? Try it in your browser Install the Notebook.

Spacemacs with Python layer - A community-driven Emacs distribution - The best editor is neither Emacs nor Vim, it's Emacs *and* Vim! - syl20bnr/spacemacs

PyCharm - Python & Django IDE with intelligent code completion, on-the-fly error checking, quick-fixes, and much more...

PaizaCloud - PaizaCloud IDE is a programming platform that allows developers to do coding efficiently.

Spyder - The Scientific Python Development Environment