PythonToolkit (PTK) is an open source interactive environment for Python. It was designed to provide a Python based environment similar to Matlab for scientists and engineers. However, this IDE has a wider appeal as it can also be used as a general purpose interactive Python environment.
PTK is built around a Tool plugin system (with core tools providing a console window and simple python source editor, path management, namespace browser and more).
PTK needs Python 2.7+ and wxPython 2.8+.
Key Features
- Console window with support for multiple Python interpreters (Engines).
- Engines are external processes so that each engine is completely separated from the others and the PTK interface.
- Interactively program with different GUI toolkits (wxPython, TkInter, pyGTK, pyQT4 and PySide).
- Built-in python debugger integrated with tools and editor.
- Object inspection, object auto-completions and calltips.
- Multi-line command editing.
- Command history (previous/next and search for partially typed commands).
- Simple editor for code testing and scripting or everyday work.
- Set, edit and clear debugger breakpoints via the editor.
- Matlab style namespace/workspace browser tool that can be extended to support new types and classes.
- Path manager tool to easily change the current working directory and manage the python search paths.
- Python object inspector tool showing object docstring, code, and values.
- GUI viewers for python data types – more can be easily added.
- Python object importer/exporter system to save and load data easily – new importers/exporters can be added.
Website: pythontoolkit.sourceforge.net
Support: Documentation
Developer: Tom Charrett
License: MIT License

PTK is written in Python. Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Python Integrated Development Environments | |
|---|---|
| PyCharm | Full-featured IDE. Two editions are available, one is open source software |
| Spyder | Python development environment providing MATLAB-like features |
| eric | Full featured Python editor and IDE, written in Python |
| Thonny | Tk-based IDE designed for novice programmers |
| PyDev | Python plugin for Eclipse |
| Leo | PIM, IDE and outliner |
| Pyzo | Interactive editor for scientific Python |
| PTK | Interactive environment for Python |
| IDLE | Python’s Integrated Development and Learning Environment |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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