Do you want to play around with Python code without the hassles of setting up your system? If yes, then this is the right place to find the best online Python compiler.
The capabilities of an online compiler range from a basic python shell capable of running a simple Python script to a feature-rich, cloud-based interpreter and compiler that can be used to edit, write, run, visualize, debug, clone, share code and collaborate with remote teams.
Why Use an Online Python Compiler?
Well, It really depends on what you plan to do. Many universities use Python to teach programming and hence students and teachers use online compilers for sharing and doing assignments. Many other online tutorials, courses, and boot camps utilize embeddable compilers or interpreters to help students understand the example snippets while going through the courses.
By sharing snippets, students and learners also get help from friends in debugging the code, are able to showcase their work in progress and work collaboratively with fellow students.
For many others, an online interpreter or a compiler aids in conducting interviews and quizzes. Interviewers can create a set of programming questions and share them with the group as a quiz or assignment. The answers can be recorded online, and results can be published after the allocated time.
Our team here at noeticforce.com has spent some time analyzing various Python interpreters available online that let you interpret and compile code snippets.
If you are looking for a fully functional development environment, you might want to check out this analysis – Finding the best Python IDE.
Given below are the best of the lot, you might want to try a few before settling on the one that suits your requirements.
1. PythonTutor – Visual Code Execution
Python Tutor is created by Philip Guo, assistant professor at Rochester University. It supports Python as well as many other languages. PythonTutor has three sections in the workspace – The code editor, the visual execution window, and the program output.
While most other online tools give you input and output screens, the visual execution is the unique feature that you get only with PythonTutor.
Visual execution of the code, by the interpreter, is the best way to understand the way programs work. You get to see what the interpreter does with every code line to generate the desired output from the python program.
As of writing this article, more than 10 million students and learners across the globe have already used PythonTutor as a supplement tool to understand lectures, online tutorials, and snippets from textbooks.
Another great feature is the option to start a shared session. You can start editing code and invite others to join the session along with a chat window for instant communication.
I specifically find shared session features as a great tool for classroom teaching and group learning, whether sitting together or in a remote setup.
2. Repl.it
Repl.it provides an online interactive programming environment for many languages including Python 3. Repl.it is developed and maintained by an ambitious team that includes Amjad Masad, Haya Odeh, and Faris Masad.
Repl.it provides a Python code interpreter, ready-to-use examples, editor, and fully featured terminal emulator. You can share your work across and save the sessions on repl.it.
Going beyond just an online interpreter, Repl.it has some great features that are perfect for classroom tests and interviews etc. One can use Repl.it API and start using the interpreter capabilities in any app; it can be an online programming contest, hackathon, or a classroom evaluation.
The key reason I recommend Repl.It to students and beginners is the ease of use, lightweight, and intuitive user interface that lets you get started within no time.
Key features include -.
- Import any third-party packages
- Option to track and roll back code changes
- Version control
- Debugger to catch errors
- Customizable Layout
- Light and dark theme options
- Option to import projects from GitHub.
- Ready to use examples
Many universities, teachers, and interviewers use repl.it to evaluate code online, including Carnegie Mellon University, one interview, Trinket, and Flatiron school.
3. Paiza.io to Compile Python Online
Piaza.io is a relatively new tool and offers both free and commercial versions. The commercial version is more advanced and offers features for enterprise-grade projects development, you probably wouldn’t need that for learning, so a free version should be good enough.
The user interface of Paiza is available in three languages that include Spanish, Japanese, and English. Some of the features available in Paiza are as below –
- Option to link the git account and auto synching of the code
- Save the code to edit later
- Option to customize themes including editor, fonts colors, etc.
- Collaboration with remote teams
- Cloud version for web development
- Ready to use pre-configured dev
4. Trinket.IO
Trinket is used by many teachers during coding classes to show snippets’ execution during lectures. Trinket is also used by teachers for creating projects for online courses and boot camps.
Using Trinket you can write and run code from a browser or any other device without any delay, without login, without the need to install anything or to add any plugins.
Trinket.io has many pre-loaded modules like NumPy, math, matplotlib.pyplot, pygal, random, re, string, time, builtins, and many more.
5. JDoodle
JDoodle is another online shell that lets you interpret and compile many languages including Python. It has a very simple and intuitive interface without too much clutter.
It doesn’t offer too much when it comes to Python but you can still write, edit, run, share, save, and debug the code yourself or in collaboration with your friends. You can get the URL of the saved project to share with your friends or fellow learners, the shared project can be used for pair programming and/or peer review.
6. Skulpt.org
Skulpt is quite an interesting online python editor. It is a complete implementation of Python in JavaScript which essentially means that you can compile Python code in the browser itself.
Skulpt is used heavily in interactive python learning courses and textbooks. Skulpt was created by Scott Graham and is well maintained by a very creative community of contributors.
You can read more about Skulpt here at – skulpt.org.
7. CodeSkulptor
CodeSkulptor is another option to interpret python online as well as see the code execution visually. It is built using skulpt.org’s browser-based python interpreter as well as PythonTutor’s visualization code.
CodeSkulptor is a handy tool to learn python online in the browser as well as to check out the visual code execution. In essence, CodeSkulptor brings the best of the two worlds together.
CodesKulptor is the creation of Scott Rixner, a well-respected professor at Rice University.
You can read more about CodeSkulptor here at – codeskulptor.org.
8. Ideone.com
Ideone.com is another great online python compiler and debugging tool for learning python. Some of the key features include the option to use syntax highlighting, source code downloading option, option to make code available publically, or keeping it private, and it is free to use. It also provides details about the time taken for code execution, memory consumption, error messages, compiler version, etc.
Ideone folks have a proprietary Sphere Engine that is used to compile code of multiple programming languages online. While Ideone is free, Sphere engine is available separately as well for commercial use and its applicability areas include training, education, hackathons, programming contests, coding interviews, etc. One can use the Sphere Engine capabilities via the provided API.
If you need a simple online python compiler in the Chinese user interface, you can try Pythonfiddle.
9. Sourceliar
Sourceliar is a completely integrated development environment for multiple languages which gives you a fully functional online Python IDE as well. Sourceliar is feature-rich but a commercial product, you get free access for a limited period, for evaluation, post which you need to purchase it if you like.
Some of the key features of Sourcliar include git and hg integration, autosave, pip package manager, Linux terminal, auto-complete, drag and drop files from desktop to online environment, themeable editor, code folding, syntax checking, etc.
Sourceliar provides specific support for Django where you can run commands like syncdb and run the server from the online interface, get syntax highlighting for Django templates, integrate with command palette, etc. You also get a public URL to showcase your Django project to others while still in WIP.
10. PythonAnywhere
PythonAnywhere is another web-based code editor that you take wherever you go. Office, home, or school, it runs on any computer (iPad, PC, MAC, or Chromebook).
The free plan offers a fully configured python environment to develop or host any website or python code directly from the browser. It offers additional features as well at a nominal monthly subscription.
While the free version is good to start, it has some limitations like no support for Jupyter notebook, no support for IPython either, and the overall usage in terms of CPU bandwidth, etc. is limited too.
PythonAnywhere.com Python Interpreter
Conclusion
Python is the leading programming language and ruling the world of computer science students, teachers, and data scientists alike. Universities use python as the primary language for teaching the fundamentals of programming to students. There used to be a time when setting up the machine was a must before you could start coding, but that is history.
These days, it is very easy to start learning the code with the help of an online interpreter and compiler. Even the online courses provide embedded compilers that are used to run snippets there themselves, making the overall learning experience better.
The online Python compilers mentioned in this article are some of the best out there. Hope the article was helpful and you are able to get going with one or more of these. Do share your experience with Python online, via comments. Cheers!
Further Reading-
List of most liked Python features
