Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PyScripter VS Thonny

Compare PyScripter VS Thonny and see what are their differences

PyScripter logo PyScripter

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

Thonny logo Thonny

Python IDE for beginners
  • PyScripter Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-18
  • Thonny Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-15

PyScripter features and specs

  • Lightweight
    PyScripter is designed to be a lightweight IDE, which means that it loads quickly and doesn't consume much system resources compared to more comprehensive IDEs like PyCharm.
  • Free and Open Source
    PyScripter is available for free and its source code is open for anyone to view, modify, and distribute, making it a cost-effective option for developers.
  • Windows Integration
    As a Windows-only IDE, PyScripter integrates well with the Windows operating system, offering features like Windows shell support and native look and feel.
  • Debugger
    PyScripter provides a robust integrated debugger with features like breakpoints, call stack visibility, and step-through execution, which are crucial for effective debugging.
  • Python Versions Support
    It supports multiple versions of Python, allowing developers to easily switch between different Python environments or scripts that require different Python versions.

Possible disadvantages of PyScripter

  • Windows-Only
    PyScripter is only available for Windows, which limits its accessibility for developers using macOS or Linux platforms.
  • Limited Features
    Compared to some other IDEs like PyCharm or Visual Studio Code, PyScripter may lack some advanced features and plugins that are available in those environments.
  • Less Community Support
    The community around PyScripter is smaller compared to more popular IDEs, which can make it harder to find help or resources specific to PyScripter.
  • UI/UX Design
    The user interface, while functional, may not be as modern or visually appealing as other popular IDEs, which could impact user experience.

Thonny features and specs

  • Beginner-Friendly Interface
    Thonny is designed with simplicity in mind, which makes it ideal for beginners. The interface is clean and intuitive, helping new users to focus on learning Python without being overwhelmed by unnecessary features.
  • Integrated Python Debugger
    Thonny comes with a built-in debugger that allows users to step through their code line by line. This feature helps in understanding the flow of the program and is especially useful for debugging and learning.
  • Simple Variable Inspector
    The variable inspector in Thonny provides a clear and straightforward view of variables and their values, helping users to better understand how data changes as the program runs.
  • Preinstalled with Python
    Thonny comes with Python preinstalled, which makes the setup process easier for beginners. Users don’t have to worry about separate Python installation and can start coding right away.
  • Support for MicroPython
    Thonny supports MicroPython, making it a suitable choice for programming microcontrollers and embedded systems. This expands its usability beyond just desktop applications.
  • Educational Focus
    Thonny includes features specifically designed for educational purposes, such as highlighting syntax errors and visualizing code execution, which helps students grasp programming concepts more effectively.

Possible disadvantages of Thonny

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While Thonny is great for beginners, it lacks some advanced features found in other IDEs like PyCharm or Visual Studio Code. This may hinder users as they advance and need more complex workflows and customizations.
  • Performance Issues with Large Projects
    Thonny may not perform efficiently with large-scale projects or extremely large files, potentially causing lag or crashes, which could be a limitation for more extensive development work.
  • Plugin Ecosystem
    Thonny's plugin ecosystem is not as robust as some other IDEs. Users might find fewer extensions and customizations available, which can limit its functionality for certain workflows.
  • Limited Language Support
    Thonny is designed primarily for Python and lacks support for other programming languages. This makes it less flexible for developers who work with multiple languages.
  • Basic Editor Features
    Essential features such as intelligent code completion, refactoring tools, and version control integration are present but not as sophisticated as in more professional IDEs, which could limit productivity for seasoned developers.
  • Less Frequent Updates
    Compared to more popular and commercially-backed IDEs, Thonny receives less frequent updates. This could mean slower adoption of new Python features and slower fixes for bugs.

PyScripter videos

Introduction to PyScripter, the Portable Python IDE

More videos:

  • Review - Python Lesson with PyScripter - Quadratic Formula and more - part 1
  • Tutorial - How to install pyScripter and python

Thonny videos

Thonny - a Python IDE for beginners

More videos:

  • Review - Step Through Python Scripts With Thonny
  • Review - Introducing Thonny

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PyScripter and Thonny)
IDE
33 33%
67% 67
Text Editors
26 26%
74% 74
Python IDE
33 33%
67% 67
Productivity
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 PyScripter and Thonny

PyScripter Reviews

We have no reviews of PyScripter yet.
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Thonny Reviews

  1. steve
    · retired ·
    I like Thonny

    I started an on-line python course that used Pycharm as its basis. I had previously used Thonny to look at code for various programs. I found Pycharm to be over-featured for a beginner like me. Thonny seems much more on my level so I am continuing the course using it instead. And successfully I might add.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Thonny seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 111 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.

PyScripter mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of PyScripter yet. Tracking of PyScripter recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Thonny mentions (111)

  • Essential Software for Hardware Hackers: Your First IDE & Tools
    Raspberry Pi Pico (MicroPython): The Thonny IDE is highly recommended and often pre-installed in Raspberry Pi OS. - Source: dev.to / 23 days ago
  • Antirez/load81: SDL based Lua programming environment for kids similar to Codea
    The nice thing about Python is that because it's so pervasive as a teaching language, there are many tools for it that specifically cater to this niche. In particular, https://thonny.org is very nice for explaining basic programming concepts like expression evaluation and function calls. And yeah, turtle graphics is the time-honored method of teaching things like loops, recursion, and parametrization via functions... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Python: From Beginners to Pro in 30 Mins (Part 1)
    Thonny or IDLE are great starting points for beginners due to their simplicity. As you become more comfortable, VS Code or PyCharm Community Edition offers more features to help you develop your skills. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • FeedMyFurBabies – Send and Receive MQTT messages between AWS IoT Core and your micro-controller
    Install Thonny and run it. Then go to Tools -> Options, to configure the ESP32C3 device in Thonny to match the settings shown in the screenshot below. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Raspberry Pico Badger: Hardware Features and OS
    The recommended way to programm MicroPython on the Raspberry Pico is to use the Thonny IDE. Accessing the Badger with reveals the following file structure:. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing PyScripter and Thonny, you can also consider the following products

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

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

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

Spyder - The Scientific Python Development Environment

Leo Editor - Text and code editor where Outlines are first class citizen.

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft