Python Learning IDE

An interactive, browser-based Python IDE powered by Monaco Editor (the engine behind VS Code). Includes 25+ line-commented examples, an integrated terminal, one-click pip install, a smart Python interpreter picker, and an optional AI Sidekick that writes code for you.

Author: Mohan Chinnappan  |  License: MIT

Screenshots

Installation

npm install -g py-learning-ide

Features

| Feature | Details | |---|---| | Monaco Editor | Syntax highlighting, IntelliSense completions, hover docs, resizable panes | | 25+ examples | Grouped sections: Basics → OOP → Advanced → Stdlib → NumPy → PyTorch → JAX | | Every line commented | Each example file has an inline comment on every line explaining the why | | Run code | Ctrl+Enter / ⌘+Enter — file saves automatically before running | | One-click pip install | ModuleNotFoundError shows a green banner; one click installs and re-runs | | Integrated terminal | Shell tab in the bottom panel — ↑/↓ history, clear command | | Interpreter picker | Click the status bar to switch Python versions live (no restart needed) | | Guided tour | 12-step annotated walkthrough, shown on first load with --enable-tour | | AI Sidekick | Chat panel (Ollama · Claude · OpenAI · xAI · Gemini) with --enable-ai | | Settings | Provider, model, API key, and system prompt stored in localStorage | | Section search | Filter sidebar by filename or category tag (numpy, pytorch, jax …) |

CLI Options

| Flag | Default | Description | |---|---|---| | -p, --port <n> | 3000 | Port to listen on | | -h, --host <addr> | localhost | Host to bind to | | --python <path> | auto-detect | Explicit Python interpreter path | | --enable-tour | off | Show splash + guided tour on first visit | | --enable-ai | off | Show AI Sidekick button in toolbar |

AI Sidekick

Start with --enable-ai, then click 🤖 AI in the toolbar.

Supported providers

| Provider | Notes | |---|---| | Ollama | Runs locally — click Fetch Models to list installed models. No API key needed. | | Claude | Anthropic API — paste your sk-ant-... key in Settings | | OpenAI | gpt-4o, gpt-4o-mini, etc. | | xAI | Grok models | | Google Gemini | gemini-2.0-flash, gemini-1.5-pro, etc. |

Workflow

1. Open Settings (⚙), choose a provider, paste your API key, select a model.
2. Click 🤖 AI to open the Sidekick panel.
3. Click a quick-prompt pill or type your own request and press Enter.
4. The AI responds with a code block. The code is automatically saved as a new .py file named from your prompt (e.g. write_a_numpy_matrix_multiply.py).
5. Click ▶ Save & Run on the code block to run it immediately.

Python Interpreter

The IDE detects Python at startup (tries python then python3). The active interpreter is shown in the status bar at the bottom of the screen.

Click the status bar badge to open the interpreter picker:

• Lists every Python found on your PATH with its version
• Type a custom path (e.g. /usr/local/bin/python)
• Switching takes effect immediately — no restart

You can also pin a specific interpreter at startup:

py-ide --python /usr/local/bin/python

All pip install commands (terminal and one-click banner) are automatically rewritten to "<selected python>" -m pip install so packages always land in the correct environment.

Guided Tour

py-ide --enable-tour

A splash screen appears on first load. Click Take the Tour → to start the 12-step walkthrough. Each step highlights the relevant UI element with a blue glow ring and an explanatory tooltip.

Re-run the tour anytime from the browser console:

localStorage.removeItem("pyide_tour_done_v2"); location.reload();

Support This Work

If this tool has helped you, please consider donating to one of Mohan's suggested charities:

• ❤️ St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — fighting childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases

• 🌍 Any charity supporting Developing Countries — organisations providing food, clean water, education, or healthcare to communities in need

Your generosity makes a real difference. Thank you.

License

MIT © Mohan Chinnappan