Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ptpython VS Spyder

Compare ptpython VS Spyder and see what are their differences

ptpython logo ptpython

a better Python REPL

Spyder logo Spyder

The Scientific Python Development Environment
  • ptpython Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-02
  • Spyder Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-06

ptpython features and specs

  • Syntax Highlighting
    Ptpython provides syntax highlighting which makes the code easier to read and write, helping users to identify elements such as keywords, strings, and variables quickly.
  • Autocompletion
    The tool offers powerful autocompletion, allowing for faster code writing by suggesting variable names, functions, and methods as you type.
  • Vi and Emacs Keybindings
    Support for both Vi and Emacs keybindings means users can navigate and edit code using their preferred text-editing shortcuts, enhancing productivity and comfort.
  • Embeddable
    Ptpython can be embedded in other applications, providing a flexible option to integrate an interactive shell within custom projects.
  • Customizable Configuration
    Users can customize various options in ptpython using a Python file, allowing for a highly personalized interactive environment.

Possible disadvantages of ptpython

  • Dependency on prompt-toolkit
    Ptpython requires the installation of the prompt-toolkit library, adding a dependency that needs to be managed within your environment.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    For those unfamiliar with interactive Python shells or text-editor keybindings, ptpython might present a steeper learning curve compared to simpler alternatives like the default Python REPL.
  • Resource Consumption
    The advanced features of ptpython, such as real-time syntax highlighting and auto-completion, may consume more system resources compared to the standard Python shell.
  • Limited Library Support
    While ptpython itself is well-supported, users might encounter compatibility issues or lack of support with other third-party libraries or extensions they wish to use.
  • Potential for Overhead
    For simple tasks or quick tests, the additional features of ptpython may introduce unnecessary overhead compared to using a basic Python shell.

Spyder features and specs

  • Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
    Spyder is a feature-rich IDE specifically designed for scientific computing, providing tools that are essential for data analysis, visualization, and more.
  • Interactive Console
    It includes an interactive IPython console, allowing for real-time execution of code and immediate feedback, which is extremely valuable for data scientists and researchers.
  • Variable Explorer
    Spyder allows users to easily inspect and modify variables using its Variable Explorer, making it simple to work with large datasets and complex structures.
  • Integrated Debugger
    The IDE offers a robust debugging environment with breakpoints, variable inspection, and step-through execution, enhancing code reliability and performance.
  • Visualization Support
    Spyder supports a wide range of visualization libraries such as Matplotlib and Seaborn, enabling users to generate plots and charts seamlessly.
  • Customizable Interface
    The interface is highly customizable, allowing users to set up their workspace according to their preferences or specific project requirements.
  • Plugin System
    Spyder supports plugins, allowing for extended functionality and the ability to tailor the IDE to specific needs.
  • Multilingual Support
    While primarily focused on Python, Spyder also supports languages like R and Matlab through plugins, broadening its usability.

Possible disadvantages of Spyder

  • Performance Issues
    Spyder can become slow or unresponsive, especially when handling very large files or datasets, negatively impacting productivity.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    For beginners, the extensive list of features can be overwhelming, and it might take considerable time to become proficient with the IDE.
  • Limited Web Development Capabilities
    Spyder is not designed for web development and lacks the features and integrations that web developers might need, such as comprehensive HTML, CSS, and JavaScript support.
  • Resource Intensive
    The IDE can be resource-intensive, which might slow down older or less powerful machines, making it less accessible for some users.
  • Dependencies
    Spyder relies on multiple external packages and dependencies, which can sometimes lead to compatibility issues or complicated installations.
  • Limited Git Integration
    While Spyder has basic integration with version control systems like Git, it lacks the full feature set found in other IDEs such as PyCharm or Visual Studio Code.
  • Fewer Community Extensions
    Compared to other popular IDEs and text editors, Spyder has fewer community-developed extensions and plugins, potentially limiting its extendability.
  • Single Focus
    The IDE's strong focus on scientific computing means it might not be as versatile for general-purpose programming, limiting its appeal to different programming communities.

ptpython videos

A BETTER PYTHON REPL (READ EVAL PRINT LOOP) - PTPYTHON

Spyder videos

First steps with Spyder - Part 1: Getting Started

More videos:

  • Review - #Spyder Movie Review - Maheshbabu - A R Murugadoss
  • Review - Can-Am Spyder F3-S Review at fortnine.ca
  • Review - Spyder review by prashanth

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ptpython and Spyder)
Python IDE
40 40%
60% 60
Text Editors
30 30%
70% 70
IDE
29 29%
71% 71
Data Science IDE
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare ptpython and Spyder

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Spyder Reviews

Top 5 Python IDEs For Data Science
If you have the Anaconda distribution installed on your computer, you probably already know Spyder. It’s an open source cross-platform IDE for data science. If you have never worked with an IDE, Spyder could perfectly be your first approach. It integrates the essentials libraries for data science, such as NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib and IPython, besides that, it can be extended...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ptpython should be more popular than Spyder. It has been mentiond 11 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.

ptpython mentions (11)

  • Why Lisp?
    If you like using the REPL, for Python I recommend you try https://github.com/prompt-toolkit/ptpython. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Tools for productivity
    REPL??? Do you have a very-easy-to-use way of running and testing your code? From vim-slime to nvim sniprun to autocommands with the built in terminal, to an external repl like ptpython (for python obviously). iron.nvim and conjure are two other neovim repl plugins. There are many ways of running the code that you're working on, and having something that makes this really easy for you is pretty essential.... Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is there a vim mode for zsh ?
    I use ptpython for my python repl https://github.com/prompt-toolkit/ptpython. I find it very convenient because it has a vim mode, and many vim similarities. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is there a way to make the Python IDLE auto-close brackets and quotations?
    A library like ptpython should be what you're looking for, however this probably isn't an option for an exam setting. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Where do I go after learning lua?
    Create a repl to the standard that ptpython sets for python (both croissant and ilua leave a lot to be desired). Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Spyder mentions (2)

  • GitHub announced the 20 projects selected for their accelerator first cohort
    - https://github.com/spyder-ide/spyder: The scientific Python development environment - https://github.com/strawberry-graphql/strawberry: A GraphQL library for Python that leverages type annotations. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Python GUI Programming
    Spyder is open source and I was going through the source code. It is a lot to take in and before I go through the code I wanted to ask if anyone could point me in the direction of a Spyder code skeleton. Source: about 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ptpython and Spyder, you can also consider the following products

iPython - iPython provides a rich toolkit to help you make the most out of using Python interactively.

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

bpython - bpython is a fancy interface to the Python interpreter for Unix-like operating systems (I hear it...

IDLE - Default IDE which come installed with the Python programming language.

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.

Thonny - Python IDE for beginners