From Vim to PyCharm: a one-month experiment

This is at least my third attempt to switch to PyCharm since I started using Python as my main programming language for professional work.

I’ve been a Vim user for a very long time and still happily use it today, enhanced with python-lsp-server and YouCompleteMe for code completion, jump-to-definition, and other features designed to increase development velocity.

Why try to switch? 🤔

• Better graphics: In Vim, you’re limited to an array of uniform characters, while graphical IDEs like PyCharm can use different font sizes to emphasize varying levels of importance
• Less maintenance of my development toolkit, including avoiding issues that occasionally arise when updating Vim plugins
• Curiosity to explore the benefits of a full-fledged IDE developed by a company with extensive resources

What made me return to Vim each time? 🔙

• Resource consumption
• The satisfaction of mastering my configuration through a single versioned file
• Deeply ingrained muscle memory for keyboard shortcuts
• Split-screen capabilities → Vim allows easy creation of complex vertical and horizontal split layouts

What I’ve enjoyed in PyCharm so far ✨

• Import statement completion — although currently not working optimally, pending some configuration research to fix it
• Graphical debugging with click-to-set breakpoints, versus manually adding breakpoint expressions
• Shift-Shift search functionality for finding anything: strings in files, specific symbols, or IDE actions
• Pair programming feature through Code With Me, for easy remote collaboration 👥

The one-month challenge 🎯

I’m committing to fully explore PyCharm’s integrated features and plugins, including:

• Docker management
• SQL client
• Git management (including branch rebasing)
• Code review with GitLab integration
• Jira integration 😲