Item: PyCharm
Rating: 10
Author: Leah Jakaitis

Overall Satisfaction with PyCharm

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

PyCharm is used as the IDE for Python. It is used for developing Python code. Additionally, Pycharm is used for descriptive stats, visualization, cleaning, prepping, and other data analysis applications. It is used across the entire organization for Python development and deployment. PyCharm supports both 2.x and 3.x versions of Python.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Customizable interface: layout, color scheme, hot keys, etc may all be individually tailored to a user.
Platform intelligence: debugging, code analysis, dependency resolution, and auto completion make the PyCharm IDE efficient and a pleasure to use
Support / tutorials guide the user through learning the different capabilities (this was a big deal for me when I switched to using Python / PyCharm after coding in a text editor and R Studio)

Cons

The biggest complaint I have about PyCharm is that it can use a lot of RAM which slows down the computer / IDE. I use the paid version, and have otherwise found nothing to complain about the interface, utility, and capabilities.

Return on Investment

Improved efficiency with coding assistance (templates, code completion, documentation), which helps us avoid 'reinventing the wheel' with new projects.
Extensive support for other packages/integrations: Docker support to test code, Git repo creation (for version control), and integration with different database systems (Postgres, MySQL).

Alternatives Considered

Atom, Sublime Text and RStudio

PyCharm is the only Python IDE I've used - all my prior experience was with text editors like Sublime, Notepad++, Atom, etc. The only other IDE I've used is RStudio, which has been fairly limited to small, individual projects. PyCharm's capabilities, stability, integration/packages, and code assistance all make it an excellent decision for Python development. It integrates with most common databases, which in turn makes working with big data sets much easier/straightforward within the development console. Definitely the industry standard as an IDE for Python dev.

Other Software Used

Asana, Basecamp, Trello

Likelihood to Recommend

PyCharm is well suited for any individual or organization looking to use Python for development and deployment. Additionally, PyCharm supports a number of different languages/apps: Javascript, Markup (XML, HTML, CSS), Django. It has an extensively customizable interface to change color schemes, code highlighting, macros, and hot keys. PyCharm's coding assistance - including syntax/error highlighting, code completion, and documentation - make it a standout IDE for developers. Additionally, if you're trying to learn Python, JetBrains has a PyCharm Ed(ucation) edition that offers basic instruction on the use of the IDE and how Python syntax works.

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Exemplary IDE for Python Development