| Kurt B. Kaiser | 1821056 | 2003-06-12 03:51:27 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 1 | IDLE is Python's Tkinter-based Integrated DeveLopment Environment. |
| Steven M. Gava | d39993e | 2001-07-20 01:36:49 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 2 | |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | 1821056 | 2003-06-12 03:51:27 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 3 | IDLE emphasizes a lightweight, clean design with a simple user interface. |
| 4 | Although it is suitable for beginners, even advanced users will find that |
| 5 | IDLE has everything they really need to develop pure Python code. |
| Steven M. Gava | d39993e | 2001-07-20 01:36:49 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 6 | |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | 1821056 | 2003-06-12 03:51:27 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 7 | IDLE features a multi-window text editor with multiple undo, Python colorizing, |
| 8 | and many other capabilities, e.g. smart indent, call tips, and autocompletion. |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | 5ddef75 | 2003-06-01 01:11:14 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 9 | |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | 1821056 | 2003-06-12 03:51:27 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 10 | The editor has comprehensive search functions, including searching through |
| 11 | multiple files. Class browsers and path browsers provide fast access to |
| 12 | code objects from a top level viewpoint without dealing with code folding. |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | f5934dd | 2002-12-31 17:56:18 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 13 | |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | 1821056 | 2003-06-12 03:51:27 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 14 | There is a Python Shell window which features colorizing and command recall. |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | f5934dd | 2002-12-31 17:56:18 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 15 | |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | 1821056 | 2003-06-12 03:51:27 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 16 | IDLE executes Python code in a separate process, which is restarted for each |
| 17 | Run (F5) initiated from an editor window. The environment can also be |
| 18 | restarted from the Shell window without restarting IDLE. |
| Steven M. Gava | d39993e | 2001-07-20 01:36:49 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 19 | |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | 1821056 | 2003-06-12 03:51:27 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 20 | This enhancement has often been requested, and is now finally available. The |
| 21 | magic "reload/import *" incantations are no longer required when editing and |
| 22 | testing a module two or three steps down the import chain. |
| Steven M. Gava | d39993e | 2001-07-20 01:36:49 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 23 | |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | 220fecf | 2003-07-27 03:24:19 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 24 | (Personal firewall software may warn about the connection IDLE makes to its |
| 25 | subprocess using this computer's internal loopback interface. This connection |
| 26 | is not visible on any external interface and no data is sent to or received |
| 27 | from the Internet.) |
| 28 | |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | 1821056 | 2003-06-12 03:51:27 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 29 | It is possible to interrupt tightly looping user code, even on Windows. |
| Steven M. Gava | d39993e | 2001-07-20 01:36:49 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 30 | |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | 1821056 | 2003-06-12 03:51:27 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 31 | Applications which cannot support subprocesses and/or sockets can still run |
| 32 | IDLE in a single process. |
| Steven M. Gava | d39993e | 2001-07-20 01:36:49 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 33 | |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | 1821056 | 2003-06-12 03:51:27 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 34 | IDLE has an integrated debugger with stepping, persistent breakpoints, and call |
| 35 | stack visibility. |
| 36 | |
| 37 | There is a GUI configuration manager which makes it easy to select fonts, |
| 38 | colors, keybindings, and startup options. This facility includes a feature |
| 39 | which allows the user to specify additional help sources, either locally or on |
| 40 | the web. |
| 41 | |
| 42 | IDLE is coded in 100% pure Python, using the Tkinter GUI toolkit (Tk/Tcl) |
| 43 | and is cross-platform, working on Unix, Mac, and Windows. |
| 44 | |
| 45 | IDLE accepts command line arguments. Try idle -h to see the options. |
| 46 | |
| 47 | |
| Guido van Rossum | 27b0240 | 2007-08-31 17:25:37 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 48 | If you find bugs or have suggestions or patches, let us know about |
| 49 | them by using the Python issue tracker: |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | 1821056 | 2003-06-12 03:51:27 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 50 | |
| Guido van Rossum | 27b0240 | 2007-08-31 17:25:37 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 51 | http://bugs.python.org |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | 1821056 | 2003-06-12 03:51:27 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 52 | |
| 53 | For further details and links, read the Help files and check the IDLE home |
| 54 | page at |
| 55 | |
| 56 | http://www.python.org/idle/ |
| Kurt B. Kaiser | a7b804f | 2003-01-10 21:27:23 +0000 | [diff] [blame] | 57 | |
| 58 | There is a mail list for IDLE: idle-dev@python.org. You can join at |
| 59 | |
| 60 | http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/idle-dev |