What is PyDev?
PyDev is a Python IDE for Eclipse, which may be used in Python, Jython and IronPython development.
Install the PyDev plug-in for Eclipse
Launch Eclipse
Launch Eclipse. A screen like this should appear, where you can choose which workspace to open.
Browse the working folder which you created when installing Eclipse.
Select “Use this as the default and do not ask again”.
If you do, Eclipse will automatically use this workspace next time you open Eclipse.
If you want to change the workspace later you can always go to
File → Switch Workspace → Other
to be sent back to the Workspace Launcher window.
Click OK to continue
You should now see Eclipse’s Welcome screen:
Click on the arrow on the right to go to the workbench.
This is where you’ll do most of your work in Eclipse.
Download PyDev from within Eclipse
Go to
Help → Install New Software
Enter
http://pydev.org/updates
in the Work with: field.
After several seconds, two options should appear.
Select the PyDev for Eclipse option.
- Do not select the “PyDev Mylyn Integration” flag.
Click “Next” and “OK” to continue installing PyDev.
Select “I accept the terms of the license agreement”, then click “Finish”.
The installer will begin to download the plug-in.
Note: When you see the Selection Needed dialog box, you must manually check the box before pressing OK. If you do not, it appears that the installation is continuing, but it is not. You must uninstall PyDev, then reinstall.
A security warning may appear asking whether you trust the software being installed- click “ok”, then ensure the correct items are selected and click yes. The instillation process will continue.
When the installation is complete, you will be asked if you want to restart Eclipse.
Select “Yes”. You may see a Subclipse Usage dialog, just uncheck the box and continue.
Configure PyDev
Python must be installed to configure PyDev.
Go to Window → Preferences. In the Preferences window, expand PyDev and select Interpreter-Python.
Click “New…” and type Python32 for the Interpreter name.
For the Interpreter executable, browse to your copy of Python (for example at Windows system: C:\Program Files\Python32\python.exe), and press Open.
Click “OK” and the Selection Needed Window will appear.
Select all but the PySrc and python32.zip and click OK as many times as necessary to exit the preferences.
The default selection should be fine.
The Interpreter is now set up so that the code you write can be interpreted for the computer to run.
You are now ready to start running code.
Writing Your First Python Program
Switch to the Python perspective
Go to Window → Open Perspective → Other and choose PyDev, then click OK.
If you look at the upper right corner you will see that the perspective has changed from “Java” to “PyDev”.
Perspectives are designed to have the most useful tools within reach for whatever task you are doing (for example writing Java code or writing Python code).
If you look in the File→ New menu you will see that there are different options with the different perspective.
PyDev Perspective
Java Perspective
As you can see, perspectives greatly affect the look of the Eclipse program.
Create a new project
Go to File → New → PyDev Project to start a wizard.
In the next window that appears, enter the name of your project and select “python” and 3.0″; as the type.
Make sure “create default ‘src’ folder and add it to the pythonpath?” is selected.
Click Finish.
If you look at the upper left corner of the workspace (in the Package Explorer view), you should now see your newly created project with a “src” folder inside.
Create a new module
Select the project you just created and go to File → New → PyDev Module. This will launch a new PyDev Module Wizard where you should enter a name for your module and make sure it is in the right location. Leave the Package field blank and select Finish.
Look in the Package Explorer view and you will see an icon of your new file inside the src folder, which Eclipse created when you made the new project before.
The file should be opened in the open space in the center of the workspace-the Editor view. (If not, right click on the greeting.py icon and select Open.) You will see a tab with the name of your file.
Write and run the program
Here’s a program to greet the world. Simply type print('Hello, World!') into the file. You may remove the default doc comment or leave it there; Python ignores it.
Right click on the file and select Save (or press Ctrl+S) to save the file.
Finally, choose the greeting.py icon, and go to Run → Run As → Python Run to run your program.
(A quicker alternative is to right-click on the greeting.py icon, and select Run As → Python Run, or press Ctrl+F11.)
Look at the bottom of your screen at the Console view and you will see the message you told the computer to print.
Congratulations! You have written your first program with Python.
Configure PyDev for Productivity
Add line numbers
Add line numbers by right-clicking in the margin at the left side of the code view and click on Show Line Numbers.
Change the comment color to one you can read more easily
Go to Window → Preferences. Open PyDev and select Editors (actually click on ‘Editors’, don’t just expand it).
In the Appearance Color Options dropdown menu, select Comments.
Then change it to a brighter color (perhaps fuchsia?).
Turn on Task view to show TODO: items and add a CONSIDER: tag
Go to Window → Show View → Tasks.
Window → Preferences → PyDev → Task Tags, and add CONSIDER: to the end of the list.
To get the task tags to show, run the program once, or select Project → Clean
