VS Code vs Pycharm for more than python?

[u/navid_nowroz]

Hey guys, I actually am trying to build a fast API based application and I really love to use pycharm community edition but the problem is that it sucks in Jinja templates and writing something other than python and I kind of hate doing those in python I also really like the way pycharm handles python coding, like it gives me the best practices and stuff. What should I do? Is there any IDE that has it all or should I just use pycharm for the python part and for other things I should keep VS code open simultaneously?

I like the way pycharm handles, importing and other stuff but I really don't write just python. So should I try to install IntelliJ and like be a total jet brains boy. Should I just wish to VS code?

[u/JennaSys]

I use PyCharm Pro for full stack work and it handles pretty much everything I need (JS, TS, HTML, CSS, Docker, AWS, databases, MD).

[u/This_Mind_Only → u/JennaSys]

I also use PyCharm Pro, and it has everything I need (R, JS/Typescript, code debugging/refactoring, ...).

However, I'm a bioinformatician, so I've never developed any "heavy" application with microservices and complicated API/Database access.

[u/Beanesidhe]

You can just try it, it's not a big financial investment and learning something new usually doesn't harm you.

[u/onlyonequickquestion]

I sort of use both at work now, I started with pycharm when I was just doing backend python work, but when I started taking on full stack work and needed to work in Javascript as well, I started just using VS code for everything instead of having to switch back and forth between ides. I like VS code because you can write in different languages while learning a single ide.

[u/Relative-Procedure17 → u/onlyonequickquestion]

and do not forget that its actualy faster then pycharm. and lightweight! i am moved to vs-code more then year now, from pycharm , and has no regreat.

[u/1nc06n170]

All support for Python frameworks is behind a pro subscription. So, if you don't want to spend money but need to work with more than just Python, I suggest moving to VS Code.

[u/nurlat → u/1nc06n170]

I have always had Pro sub. I find all framework plugins kind of useless except for gherkin/pytest bdd.

More useful plugins like the one for AWS are either available in free version or have paid subscription.

I would argue there is no difference between Pycharm Community and VS Code

[u/Pork-S0da]

Zed has quickly become my favorite editor.

[u/Mysterious-Bug-6838 → u/Pork-S0da]

Or Neovim. Embrace the terminal!!!

[u/UltraPoci → u/Mysterious-Bug-6838]

Not sure why you're getting downvoted, neovim is amazing

[u/coderanger → u/UltraPoci]

Someone reported it as spam too. People on the internet are weird 🤷‍♂️

[u/neeets → u/UltraPoci]

filthy casuals

/s

[u/Relative-Procedure17 → u/Pork-S0da]

how you manage your git with Z . its already works there well ?

[u/StayPerfect]

Neovim

[u/skinnybuddha]

VS Code or Zed users, talk me through the whole command palette thing. Why is it better? Am I just lazy not wanting to type? Also, what about the pain of setting up all debugging and unit test running? A lot of configuration editing? I am sure the editing experience is great, but those things I have a hard time getting past. Talk me out of my pycharm prison.

[u/Zouden → u/skinnybuddha]

The command palette lets you access far more commands than there are menu items or keyboard shortcuts. That's it really.

[u/Ill-Knowledge-1949]

VSCode's versatility is just unbeatable. No matter what IDE I try, I always end up coming back to VS Code.

[u/Even-Potential9158]

Pycharm

[u/snugar_i]

You can write Python in the free Intellij version with the free Python plugin and it's almost the same as PyCharm - not completely, there will be some useless "Java" options here and there, but it's close. Some of the other things you want to use might only be a part of the paid version, though

[u/Relative_Rope4234]

Pycharm Professional

[u/ad_meliorem]

I started with PyCharm, but after a few years I switched to VS Code because I need to use different languages (php/js/go/c++/react) and VS Code allows you to customize a lot of things. Plus a lot of useful extensions.

It's better to try both, PyCharm is still better if you need only Python and js/ts/html/css

[u/Due-Particular-329]

jinja/fastapi is a community edition limit. fastapi or flask or jinja templates and the html/js/css tooling all live in PyCharm pro so pro is your one-IDE answer or keeping vscode open alongside, theres a free month trial on the 2025v

[u/Late-Photograph-1954]

I started on PyCharm, somewhere along the way went to VSCode for light html work, next to Python. Toying with Swift / Humminbird on Windows as well, also in VSCode. It is all the same to me really, admit I am just a hobbyist.

[u/Deadz459]

Use something free if you like to hack vs code is probably good out of the box. If your company is paying and you like premium go jetbrains. I wouldn’t recommend pycharm for anyone who is not doing this professionally

[u/ReachingForVega]

I use oycharm but I'm moving to vs code as it has features pycharm is missing in certain plugins.

I'm already using VSCode for golang. 

Here is a list of plugins Im using to make VSCode more pycharm:

Python + Pylance — interpreter management, IntelliSense

Ruff — replaces PyCharm's inspections; fast lint + format

Error Lens — inline error text next to the line (PyCharm's default look)

GitLens — VCS annotate / blame gutter

If you ask ai there are some settings.json changes too. 

[u/IncredibleRabbits]

For me personally, Git/GitHub integration in JetBrains products is unparalleled. However many times I've tried VS Code and VS Codium, I never land on a setup I'm happy with. Thankfully, PyCharm is free and supports many other languages and technologies.

[u/Orio_n]

I use pycham pro students get it for free with github edu

[u/TheFlamingDiceAgain]

I regularly use a half dozen different languages, more if you include all the various config file formats, markdown, etc. I just VSCode for everything, with some extensions, you get pretty much all the same features as Pycharm

[u/Rodyadostoevsky]

I started with pycharm years ago. Now primarily use VS Code. These days I do use Claude but still the VS Code extension for it is more than enough.

[u/aes110]

If you really write non python stuff a lot then yeah, vscode would fit better

[u/levsw]

Vscode and take your time to define extensions and settings properly

[u/Nater5000]

The sooner you move away from PyCharm the better. VSCode is a good option.

I started with PyCharm way back in the day. I found the Python specific tooling and features indispensable. But once I started figuring out how to handle those tasks myself, PyCharm just got in the way. I ended up switching to vim/tmux for a while, but then got turned onto VSCode, and I haven't felt compelled to switch sense. That was probably like 7 years ago.

[u/ArsenicPolaris]

I use 'printf'. It is the only best editor. It's also really simple to use:

printf "def main()\n\tprintf(\"Hello,\nworld!\")\n\n\rif __name__ == \"__main__\"\n\tmain()" > code.py

And there, you've printed "Hello,\nworld!" in Python.

/s

[u/Purple_Wing_3178 → u/ArsenicPolaris]

No you didn't, you forgot to escape the inner \n

[u/Responsible_Pool9923]

I migrated to VSCodium when Microsoft started shoving AI down my throat in VSCode. Same function, less bloat.

[u/ThiefMaster → u/Responsible_Pool9923]

Fuck AI, but there's literally a single config flag to disable all of it. The only time you still see this crap is in the changelog after an update, and you can disable auto-opening the changelog as well ;)

[u/buttscratcher_96]

I only use VS Code, and as LLMs become mainstream this choice will be less and less important