Thonny is a Python integrated development environment designed for people learning to program. Its uncluttered interface makes it particularly suitable for students, teachers and anyone approaching Python for the first time.
Unlike conventional IDEs that primarily concentrate on writing and managing software, Thonny places considerable emphasis on helping users understand how their programs execute. Its debugger visualises individual statements, expressions, function calls and variable values, making abstract programming concepts easier to follow.
The environment provides a source-code editor and interactive Python shell, together with tools for managing packages and exploring Python objects. Beginners can start with a straightforward workspace and enable more advanced facilities as their experience grows.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Beginner-friendly interface that initially hides unnecessary controls and advanced options.
- Step-through debugger executes programs one statement at a time without requiring breakpoints.
- Expression evaluation visualisation shows how Python calculates intermediate results.
- Function-call visualisation displays local variables and execution context in separate windows.
- Variables view shows how program execution changes values and objects.
- Alternative object representations explain references, identity and memory relationships.
- Distinguishes local and global variable occurrences to help explain Python scopes.
- Syntax error highlighting identifies common mistakes such as unclosed strings and parentheses.
- Code completion assists with discovering functions, methods and Python APIs.
- Interactive Python shell allows commands and expressions to be evaluated immediately.
- Graphical package manager simplifies managing additional Python libraries.
- Provides access to a system shell configured for the selected Python interpreter.
- Customisable editor and interface themes, with support for extensions.
- Cross-platform support – runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Website: thonny.org
Support:
Developer: Aivar Annamaa and contributors
License: MIT License
Thonny is written in Python. Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Python Integrated Development Environments | |
|---|---|
| PyCharm | Full-featured IDE. Two editions are available, one is open source software |
| Spyder | Python development environment providing MATLAB-like features |
| eric | Full featured Python editor and IDE, written in Python |
| Thonny | Tk-based IDE designed for novice programmers |
| PyDev | Python plugin for Eclipse |
| Leo | PIM, IDE and outliner |
| Pyzo | Interactive editor for scientific Python |
| PTK | Interactive environment for Python |
| IDLE | Python’s Integrated Development and Learning Environment |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| Integrated Development Environments | |
|---|---|
| RStudio | Enterprise-ready professional software for R |
| PyCharm | Integrated Development Environment for Python |
| Neovim | Continuation and extension of Vim |
| Lapce | Fast and powerful code editor written in Rust |
| NetBeans IDE | Java based IDE from Apache |
| VSCodium | Binary distribution of VS Code |
| Eclipse | Java based environment combining a number of different Eclipse projects |
| Qt Creator | Cross-platform, complete Integrated Development Environment |
| Spyder | The Scientific Python Development Environment |
| KDevelop | An easy to use IDE for KDE |
| Helix | Post-modern modal text editor |
| Theia | Cloud & desktop IDE framework |
| eric | Full featured Python editor and IDE |
| Thonny | Python Integrated Development Environment for Beginners |
| Lazarus | Delphi compatible cross-platform IDE |
| PyDev | Python Integrated Development Environment for Eclipse |
| Gambas | Development environment and a full powerful development platform |
| Che | Kubernetes based Cloud Development Environments for Enterprise Teams |
| Leo | Python based IDE, Outliner and PIM |
| IntelliJ IDEA | IDE for Java, Groovy, and other languages |
| LiteIDE | Edit and build Go projects |
| Arduino IDE | Electronics prototyping platform |
| ZeroBrane Studio | Lightweight Lua-based IDE for Lua |
| CodeLite | Powerful and lightweight C/C++ IDE |
| Pyzo | Cross-Platform Python IDE focused on interactivity and introspection |
| DrRacket | IDE for the Racket programming languages |
| Builder | IDE for GNOME |
| Geany | Small and lightweight IDE based on Scintilla |
| Code::Blocks | Very extensible and fully configurable |
| Ecere SDK | Software development kit |
| Zasper | IDE for Data Science |
| U++ | Rapid application development framework |
| roobuilder | Vala and JavaScript IDE |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
 Explore our carefully curated directory of recommended free and open source software, covering every major software category.The directory forms part of our extensive collection of articles for Linux enthusiasts. It includes hundreds of detailed reviews, together with free and open source alternatives to proprietary software from companies such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. LinuxLinks also covers interesting projects worth exploring, Linux-compatible hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Know a useful free and open source Linux application that we haven’t covered? Tell us about it using our submission form. |
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.