I start to approach Python and first of all I try different IDE to work with it.
I work on a Mac, so I’ve OS X that has Python 2.5 installed, if you’d like to work with it, only write “python” in the shell and you can start to write down your Python script.
Terminal is ok but it’s not the best way to work with Python I suppose!
My second test is with MacPython, you can download it from Python site, Â when you have download it, you have 4 icons with IDLE that allow you to write and run your Python script or file.
It’s a very easy and fast way if you want to change or test any Python file that you’ve download via web or made by yourself.
IDLE give you color code but not code hinting… and for a newbie it could be a big problem!
My last 2 tests are with the best developer IDE (my 2 cents) Eclipse and Aptana.
Both are very interesting platforms, you can work very well not only with Python, but also with other SDK like Adobe AIR, Nokia WRT or iPhone in the same IDE and so on, obviously you can also customize your development environment.
If you want to work with Python, you can download PyDev, a cool plug-in that gives you many features the most important are code hinting and debugging.
When you use IDE like Eclipse or Aptana you can switch from a development language to another one in few seconds and in the same IDE, I love it!
If you want to download PyDev for your favourite IDE I suggest to take a look at PyDev sourceforge site and fabioz.com also; in fact in the last site you can find tons of tutorials and documentations about this plug-in.
When you have install it, remember to setup Python interpreter (Eclipse (or Aptana) > Preferences > PyDev > interpreter Python), in Mac OS X you can find it at:Â /Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/versions/2.5/bin/python2.5Â for more information about this issue I suggest to go at Aptana forum.
Otherwise I suggest to choose for Eclipse because on Mac OS X is better and faster than Aptana but it’s my 2 cents.
Also, if you choose for Eclipse you can also install Flex Builder plug-in version and starts to work together on the web and maybe on the desktop applications with Adobe AIR (I hope :P).
