When comparing PyScripter vs Leo Editor, the Slant community recommends PyScripter for most people. In the question“What are the best Python IDEs or editors?” PyScripter is ranked 15th while Leo Editor is ranked 39th. The most important reason people chose PyScripter is:
PyScripter is a lightweight Python IDE.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
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.
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
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.
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.
