Coding

Spyder – The Scientific Python Development Environment

Last Updated on September 22, 2023

Spyder (previously known as Pydee) is an open-source Python development environment providing MATLAB-like features in a simple and light-weighted software.

Spyder is part of spyderlib, a Python module based on PyQt, pyflakes, rope and sphinx providing powerful PyQt4 widgets like source code editors, Python console (easy to embed in your own application: see this example) or GUI-based dictionary, lists/tuples and NumPy array editors.

This project is part of a larger effort to promote and facilitate the use of Python for scientific and engineering software development. The popular Python distributions Python(x,y) and WinPython also contribute to this plan.

Features include:

  • Syntax coloring for Python, C/C++ and Fortran files.
  • Powerful dynamic code introspection features (powered by rope):
    • Code completion and calltips.
    • Go to an object definition with a mouse click.
  • Class and function browser.
  • Occurrence highlighting.
  • To-do lists (TODO, FIXME, XXX).
  • Get errors and warnings on the fly (provided by pyflakes).
  • Breakpoints and conditional breakpoints to use with the python debugger (pdb).
  • To easily interact with your code as you progress, Spyder lets you.
  • Open as many Python and Ipython consoles as you want.
  • Run a whole script or any portion of it from the Editor.
  • Have code completion and automatic link to documentation through the Object Inspector.
  • Execute all consoles in a separate process so they don’t block the application.
  • With the Variable Explorer you can browse and analyze all the results your code is producing, and also.
  • Edit variables with Spyder’s Array Editor, which has support for a lot of data types (numbers, strings, lists, arrays, dictionaries).
  • Have multiple Array Editors open at once, thus allowing to compare variable contents.
  • Import/Export data from/to a lot of file types (text files, numpy files, Matlab files).
  • Generate 2D plots of list and arrays.
  • View local variables while you’re debugging.
  • Quick access to documentation is a must for every programmer, either to explore new libraries or to remember how to use a piece of code. Spyder gives you the docs in three different formats:
    • Rich text (powered by Sphinx).
    • Plain text, to use when rich text is not working.
    • Source code, to look at the internal implementation.
  • History log.
  • Array editor.
  • Project explorer.
  • Pylint integration.

Website: github.com/spyder-ide/spyder
Support:
Developer: Pierre Raybaut – Developed and maintained by the Spyder Development Team
License: MIT License

Spyder

Spyder is written in Python. Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

Return to Python IDEs | Return to Integrated Development Environments


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