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Add to SafariWhen comparing Spacemacs with Python layer vs PyScripter, the Slant community recommends Spacemacs with Python layer for most people. In the question“What are the best Python IDEs or editors?” Spacemacs with Python layer is ranked 6th while PyScripter is ranked 15th. The most important reason people chose Spacemacs with Python layer is:
At the heart of Spacemacs, the configuration layers group packages configuration into semantic units that can be toggled on and off. The architecture is simple but powerful allowing to easily manage configuration dependencies between hundreds of packages. Layers for other languages can be found [here](https://github.com/syl20bnr/spacemacs/tree/master/layers/+lang).
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Support for different languages with layers
At the heart of Spacemacs, the configuration layers group packages configuration into semantic units that can be toggled on and off. The architecture is simple but powerful allowing to easily manage configuration dependencies between hundreds of packages.
Layers for other languages can be found here.
Pro Easy to remember keybindings
Key bindings are organized in mnemonic namespaces. For instance buffer actions are under b, file actions under f, project actions under p, search actions under s etc...
Key bindings are consistent across the whole distribution thanks to a set of conventions.
Pro Great support from the community
The community is very active and there is a welcoming gitter chat to ask for questions.
Pro Free/Libre/Open
Pro It includes org-mode
Pro Easy to manage configuration dependencies
At the heart of Spacemacs, the configuration layers group packages configuration into semantic units that can be toggled on and off. The architecture is simple but powerful allowing to easily manage configuration dependencies between hundreds of packages.
Pro Gradual learning curve
Evil package is a first class citizen, Spacemacs embraces it from day one. Evil package allows Vim users to be productive very quickly while still allowing regular Emacs users to use Spacemacs.
Pro Above average documentation quality
Documentation is mandatory for each new configuration layer and can be accessed directly within the editor in Org format.
Pro Lightweight
PyScripter is a lightweight Python IDE.
Pro Easy to use
Covers the needs of advanced users (thread debugging, unit testing etc.).
Pro Superb for interactively developing scripts
When you run a program, the context is automatically available in the Python interpreter afterwards, without having to set breakpoints.
Pro Easy to set up
No configurations needed. Just download and code.
Cons
Con Configured in Emacs Lisp
Most developers don't know Lisp all that well, and of those, the subset that knows elisp is even smaller. Thankfully, it's not that difficult to get a basic Spacemacs configuration together without knowing elisp (thanks to Spacemacs's spectacular documentation), but if you need to alter, fix, or customize a plugin/layer in non-trivial ways, this can become a major hindrance.
Con Not an IDE
For users that aren't familiar with Vim or Emacs, Spacemacs will have a steep learning curve since everything is based on keyboard shortcuts and IDE-based users (or even users coming from editors like SublimeText or Atom) may have trouble finding things and adjusting to a new editing style.
Con Slow startup time
Although configuration is heavily lazy loaded, the starting time of Spacemacs is usually between two and five seconds. Emacs can be run as a daemon though which reduces the clients startup time to a few milliseconds.
Con Windows only
Available for Windows only.
Con Noticeably unstable since v.4
Frequently hangs/freezes, esp. when debugging.
Con Refactoring is not that easy
In Pyscripter, refactoring pretty much leans on traditional dumb find-and-replace.
