When comparing Visual Studio with the Python Tools extension vs Leo Editor, the Slant community recommends Visual Studio with the Python Tools extension for most people. In the question“What are the best Python IDEs or editors?” Visual Studio with the Python Tools extension is ranked 38th while Leo Editor is ranked 39th. The most important reason people chose Visual Studio with the Python Tools extension is:
Has smart autocompletion based on variable types
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Autocompletion based on variable types
Has smart autocompletion based on variable types
Pro Cloud storage through VS Online
Your Visual Studio Online account gives you a place to store your code, backlog, and other project data with no servers to deploy, configure, or manage.
Pro Web based interface to track project progress
In agile development teams one really needs features such as product backlogs where you can assign features to team mates and track their progress on them. VS provides a web based interface for you to track your team's complete progress on the project.
Pro Outlines - better than folding
With outlines functions and classes can be arranged and grouped with their logical neighbours, even nested. Whole branch hierarchies can be expanded and collapsed in a single key stroke, or moved from this spot to that, as best fits the thinking or troubleshooting of the day. Outline trees make navigation across broadly different areas an effortless exercise. See your whole project in a single view, across any number of external files and modules.
Pro Internal command line
All Leo editor commands are available in a command bar, called a "mini-buffer", that feature tab-completion and command history. For example "Find all nodes containing phrase '...', clone them, and paste in a new tree" is a simple alt-x
, clone-find-flattened
(or cff
) away. As is toggle-split-direction
, expand/contract-log-pane
and execute-script
.
Pro Clones - when two or three or ... are better than one
Leo's unique concept of 'clones' means you can re-arrange sections of an external file to suit your way of thinking or tacking a specific issue without changing the organization of the source. This makes it a great tool for studying code from others, and perhaps contributing back to them without changing your or their preferred arrangement methods.
Cons
Con Windows only
Visual Studio is only available on Windows, though there is now a cross-platform derivation of Visual Studio named Visual Studio Code. It is has less features and is more of a code editor than an IDE.
Con Proprietary
Visual Studio is a proprietary software.
Con A different way of thinking means learning
There's no other code and text editor quite like Leo, so expect to put in some time learning. It can take some trying this and that before the "Aha!"s start to roll in. It's experiential.