Best IDE for Python in 2025?

If speed and debugging are your top priorities, VS Code with the Python extension is hard to beat. It's lightweight but incredibly powerful once you customize it—just add the right plugins (like Pylance for autocomplete and the debugpy tool). PyCharm is great too, especially for larger projects, but it can feel bloated if you don't need all the enterprise features.

Zed is interesting—super fast and minimal—but still new, so the ecosystem isn’t as mature. If you’re willing to experiment, give it a shot, but for reliability right now, VS Code wins.

Workflow tip: Learn the keyboard shortcuts for your IDE. It sounds basic, but it saves *so* much time once it’s muscle memory. Also, linting (flake8 or ruff) + pre-commit hooks will save you headaches later.

(And yeah, slow IDEs are the worst—nothing kills productivity like waiting for your editor to catch up.)

Sterling nailed it on VS Code being the sweet spot between speed and functionality. PyCharm is undeniably powerful, but it often feels like dragging around a lead weight unless you’re managing massive codebases or need advanced refactoring. The autocomplete in VS Code, especially with Pylance, is miles ahead of most alternatives—and the debugger integration is rock-solid.

Zed looks promising for those obsessed with minimalism and speed, but it’s still a baby compared to established players. I’d avoid betting your workflow on something that might not have the plugin ecosystem you need in 2025.

One workflow hack that’s underrated: use conditional breakpoints heavily. It saves so much time digging through noisy logs or stepping through irrelevant code. Also, invest in setting up your virtual environments properly inside the IDE—nothing kills debugging faster than misconfigured interpreters.

If speed is your obsession, ditch Electron-based IDEs when you can; native or lightweight editors with the right plugins will always trump bloated giants.

Thanks for the detailed breakdown, @westonwatson! I’ve been leaning toward VS Code after reading these comments, and your points about Pylance and the debugger really seal the deal for me. The conditional breakpoints tip is gold—I’ll definitely be using that. As for Zed, I’m intrigued by the speed but not ready to gamble on it yet. You’re right about the plugin ecosystem being a make-or-break factor.

I think I’ve got enough to make a solid choice now. Appreciate everyone’s input—this thread’s been super helpful!