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Exploring Tools for Coding in Python
00:00 Python developers turn to different tools to learn, build, and debug. These include REPLs, code editors, IDEs, or integrated development environments, and now AI coding assistants.
00:13 You’ve already seen the main use of a REPL: short examples, quick experimentation, and testing a new concept.
00:21 Code editors and IDEs help you write code that you can save and reuse. Code editors are usually lightweight and customizable, while IDEs often include more specialized features like debugging, testing, and project tools.
00:35 But to be honest, there’s often a lot of overlap. Useful features found in both IDEs and code editors include syntax highlighting, auto-indentation, autocompletion, a wide array of available plugins, and nowadays AI-assisted workflows.
00:51 They’re still fairly new, but they’re also becoming increasingly ubiquitous. Here are some popular current options. For code editors, you have Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, Zed, and Cursor.
01:06 For IDEs, you have the Python Integrated Development and Learning Environment (IDLE), which is bundled with Python, Thonny, and PyCharm. But ultimately, you should choose a tool that you feel comfortable with that supports your workflow.
01:20 The Thonny IDE is a great choice for beginners, though, so if you’re interested, check out the course Thonny: A Beginner-Friendly Python Editor.
01:30 Alternatively, there’s the world of AI assistants. AI assistants can help you write, explain, test, and debug code. Some best practices for working with AI assistants: give them specific context about what you’re trying to do, make sure their code runs correctly, cross-reference against official documentation if needed, and always have robust tests.
01:50 Never share credentials, private keys, or sensitive data in prompts. It’s worth repeating: never share credentials, private keys, or sensitive data in your prompts.
02:01 And remember, you’re still 100% responsible for your code, so act accordingly.
02:08 AI assistants can work inside editors, web apps, and even the command line. Some popular AI assistants include GitHub Copilot Chat, Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, and the JetBrains AI Assistant.
02:23 If you’re not sure where to start, I recommend Codex. You can run it directly from the command line.
02:28 The course Use Codex CLI to Enhance Your Python Projects is a great way to get up and running. But whether the code comes from you or an AI assistant, it should still follow a consistent style.
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