An IDE is an acronym that stands for an Integrated Development Environment.

According to Wikipedia, An IDE is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development. An IDE normally consists of a source code editor, build automation tools, and a debugger.

IDEs provide an environment where you can write your code, test it and debug it. They can provide some cool features like code completion and code syntax highlighting.

Most Python IDEs are available on MacOS, Linux and Windows only a few are available on Android.

Python IDEs for Android

Here are some Python IDEs you can use on your android device.

QPython – Python for Android

One of the most popular  Python IDE for Android Users has been QPython – Python for Android.

One advantage of QPython3 is that the Python interpreter works under android 4.0 in google play. I love QPython3 because the developers are constantly working to fix bugs and release a new app to keep up with Python version release. They also intend to include the libraries such as Numpy, Scipy, Theano, Keras, Tensorflow, and OpenCV.

Main Features of QPython

• Supports Python programming on Android including web apps, games, and SL4A programming etc
• Run Python scripts/projects on Android devices
• Can execute Python code & files from QRCode
• QEdit lets you create/edit Python scripts/projects easily
• Includes many useful python libraries
• Support pip

Programming Features of QPython

• Supports Web App programming, which let you develop mobile apps with web development framework, this speeds up your mobile development greatly
• Supports native UI programming, which let you develop games more easily by using scripts
• Supports SL4A programming to access Android’s features: network, Bluetooth, GPS, and more

Pydroid 3

Pydroid 3 is the easiest to use and powerful educational Python 3 IDE for Android. It requires Andriod version 4.4 and above.

Features of Pydroid 3:

• Offline Python 3.6 interpreter: no Internet is required to run Python programs.
•  Full-featured Terminal Emulator, with a readline support (available in pip).
• Pip package manager and a custom repository for prebuilt wheel packages for heavy libraries, such as NumPy, SciPy(pronounced “Sigh Pie”), Matplotlib, scikit-learn, and Jupyter.
• Examples available out-of-the-box.
• Built-in C, C++ and even Fortran compiler designed by n0n3m4, an author of C4droid, especially for Pydroid 3. It lets Pydroid 3 build any library from pip, even if it is using native code. You can also build & install dependencies from a command line.
• Cython support.
• PDB debugger with breakpoints and watches.
• Kivy graphical library with a shiny new SDL2 backend.
• PyQt5 support available in Quick Install repository along with Matplotlib PyQt5 support with no extra code required.
• Matplotlib Kivy support available in Quick Install repository.

Editor features of Pydroid 3:

• Code prediction, auto indentation and real-time code analysis just like in any real IDE.
• Extended keyboard bar with all symbols you need to program in Python.
• Syntax highlighting & themes.
• Tabs.
• Enhanced code navigation with interactive assignment/definition gotos.
• One click share on Pastebin.

Features that are bold are available in Premium version only.

Quick manual.

• Pydroid 3 requires at least 170MB free internal memory. 200MB+ is recommended. More if you are using heavy libraries such as scipy.
• To run debug place breakpoint(s) clicking on the line number.
• SDL2/Kivy is detected with “import kivy”, “from kivy“ or “#Pydroid run sdl2”.
• PyQt5 is detected with “import PyQt5”, “from PyQt5“ or “#Pydroid run qt”.

There are some libraries not available on the Pydroid 3 which include:

• Tensorflow
• OpenCV
• Tk/Tkinter or any libraries having it as a dependency
• Pygame

According to the developers of Pydroid 3, they don’t plan on adding these libraries yet.

Screenshots of Pydroid 3 from Google App Store

Android Apps to Learn Python

PC users have a platform such as codeacademy where they can learn Python.

For an Android user, you can use any of the apps below to learn Python programming.

SoloLearn Python

If you are looking for an app to learn Python for free I recommend you check out  Learn Python(Solo Learn).

The SoloLearn android app teaches you the following topics in Python:

• Python Basics
• Data Types
• Control Structures
• Functions and Modules
• Exceptions
• Working with Files
• Functional Programming
• Object-Oriented Programming
• Regular Expressions

Learn To Code (PYTHON)

Another Android app to learn  Python is Learn To Code (PYTHON).

In addition to what SoloLearn app teaches, Learn To Code teaches these additional topics:

• Variables and Types
• Lists
• Basic Operators
• String Formatting
• Basic String Operations
• Conditions
• Loops
• Functions
• Classes and Objects
• Dictionaries
• Modules and Packages

However, SoloLearn offers a Certificate of Completion as a trophy.

Over to you.

Which Python IDE for Android will you use?

QPython3 or Pydroid 3?

Share your thoughts with us via the comment section.

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