A good code editor should have features that make coding easier and faster. Thus, a quality code editor is an essential tool for anyone who works with code.
No matter if you are a beginner or an experienced programmer, the most important tool you need is a good text editor. Getting familiar with Python development takes time, but using the right apps certainly helps. Nowadays, many developers decide over the Sublime vs PyCharm dilemma.
PyCharm is an integrated development environment (IDE) specifically designed for Python. Sublime Text is a text editor that is fast, lightweight, and provides a wide range of features that make writing code easier. However, which is the better choice for web development in general?
PyCharm – Main Key Points
PyCharm is a Python developer tool that is popular among the majority of programmers. IT enterprises are utilizing it for the development of extensive projects. It provides a complete set of tools to help developers create, debug, and deploy applications. It also has an intuitive user interface. Thus, it allows you to quickly inspect a line and make changes. It can also be integrated with version control systems such as Git.
Furthermore, the native database tools can be utilized for SQL, MySQL, and other languages. Then, you can post your application to the IDE and to remote servers as well.
Sublime Text – Main Key Points

Sublime Text does not offer as many features as PyCharm, but it is great for quickly writing and editing code.
It features syntax highlighting, code completion, and code folding. It also offers a variety of plugins that can be used to extend its functionality.
Sublime Text supports a wide range of programming languages, making it an ideal tool for any developer.
Additionally, it is lightweight and fast, meaning it will not slow down your system. Finally, due to its smart design and features, many IT experts recommend using it.
PyCharm vs Sublime Text – Direct Comparisons
Language Compatibility
PyCharm is a sophisticated text editor. It has a powerful code editor with support for Python and JavaScript. It also has an intelligent code completion and code refactoring system. The integrated debugger allows you to debug your code line by line as you go. It also has an integrated unit testing framework. Hence, it provides integrated version control support for Git, Mercurial, Subversion, etc.
The integrated database explorer allows you to edit in popular relational databases such as MySQL. Then, the integrated Python console allows you to execute Python code interactively. This is especially useful for testing new code or exploring features of the language.
Sublime Text supports various languages such as C, C++, Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Python, Ruby, and more. It also provides syntax highlighting and code completion for multiple languages. However, when it comes to running a program, Sublime Text only supports a few languages, such as Python and JavaScript. For other languages, you need to use additional plugins to run the program.
Fused Debuggers
Sublime Text offers a function for detecting and error tracking, albeit a limited one. For more comprehensive debugging, it is recommended to use other tools.
On the other hand, PyCharm makes debugging a breeze and helps users spot bugs quickly and easily. Additionally, PyCharm has a built-in unit test runner that makes it easier to write and run unit tests. This helps to ensure that the code stays clean and bug-free.
The UI and Layout of These Apps
PyCharm has a modern design with an intuitive layout.
The UI is well organized, making it easy to find what you are looking for. It also has a customizable user interface, so you can tailor it to your specific needs.
There is a wide range of plugins available to help you get the most out of the program. Plus, PyCharm has a lot of similarities with other native apps for Mac.
Sublime Text’s UI is very simple and easy to use. There are no flashy animations or anything like that, but it still looks modern and clean.
The UI is really responsive and you can easily find the tools you need. In my opinion, it seems like a mixture of Windows, Mac, and Linux.
The Lists of Available Extensions
The two applications enable the installation of relevant plugins to enlarge their functionalities. However, Sublime Text’s install package control is not natively included.
Yet, it is easy to install new plugins and customize them. Therefore, both beginners and experienced developers alike can utilize the app.
The most popular extensions for PyCharm include Python Code Quality Tools. Those help you with code refactoring, debugging, and code analysis. There are also extensions for version control systems, auto-completion, unit testing, and many more.
The issue with Pycharm is that it does not offer a plugin archive for faster downloads.
However, you can still install plugins from the JetBrains Marketplace. For that, head to the File menu under Settings.
The Search Options
Sublime’s search function allows you to quickly find and replace words or phrases within the doc.
You can also use regular expressions search to quickly locate blocks of code or patterns. Additionally, Sublime allows for multi-file search and replacement.
Plus, it can hone in on various case-sensitive words. This can be a huge time-saver when dealing with large projects.
Compared to Sublime Text’s search option, PyCharm offers similar solutions.
It provides a way to search for classes, methods, and functions within the current project. Additionally, you can use the ‘Find in Path’ feature to look for specific terms across the entire project.
Comparison of the Version Control System
PyCharm issues compatibility with Version Control systems. They are easy to find and use the VCS tag. To track them, focus on the top of the menu.
In the Sublime Text editor, to access the Version Control systems you need to install a Git plugin.
For that, users should head to the Package Control section first. Next, type in “Git” and select the Git plugin.
After the installation, users can open the Command Palette and find the Git commands available for use.
Support for Virtual Environments
Both PyCharm and Sublime Text offer virtual environments, but only Sublime Text offers Vagrant.
However, you will need to install the Vagrant VMWare provider plugin. Also, download the vagrant-vbguest add-on and install it.
Once the plugins are installed, you can create a symlink from within your Vagrant VM. This can be done in a virtual environment outside of the VM.
However, this method only works with Linux or OSX. So, the same feature is not possible on Windows.
Memory Space
There is a big difference in memory consumption between the two text editors. Sublime Text absorbs around 50MB RAM when not in use while PyCharm eats up around 700MB.
Hence, PyCharm is a more feature-rich editor and therefore hogs more space to run. Sublime is a lighter-weight app and does not require as much memory for basic operations.
Underlining the Top Features
There are several features that PyCharm has that Sublime doesn’t.
For example, the ability to create and debug Python scripts, version control support, a built-in debugger, the ability to search and navigate source code quickly, etc.
- Sublime Text: Popular text editor used by many developers for smaller projects and fast coding.
- PyCharm: Beneficial for larger projects. It includes a version control system, debugging, syntax highlighting, code completion, refactoring, etc.
Hence, the Sublime vs PyCharm decision is not an obvious one. Both products have a lot in common. However, PyCharm has a great UI that boosts productivity, code completion, etc. On the other hand, Sublime is more focused on coding.
Fees
The monthly subscription for PyCharm begins at $19.90 per user. There is an option to pay an All Products Pack for $64.90 monthly. The pack includes other JetBrains products as well.
One of the best features of Sublime Text is that you can download and use a free version. For the full IT professionals are required to pay a one-time cost of $80.
Conclusion on Sublime vs PyCharm
Overall, it falls upon the user to consider what they want to accomplish. If they want to start coding and use several programming languages, then Sublime might be the better choice. However, PyCharm is a much better fit for complex projects. Bottom line: both Sublime Text and PyCharm are great options for software development.
If you enjoyed reading this article about Sublime vs PyCharm, you should check out this one about the best IDE for web development or this one with open-source mobile app development software.
We also wrote about a few related subjects like the best IDE for Java, C++, Flutter, Javascript, and for Mac.
And we managed to create comparative articles like Sublime vs Notepad++, and VScode vs Sublime.
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