How to Install PyCharm on Fedora Linux

PyCharm is a popular integrated development environment (IDE) for programming in Python. It is known for its user-friendly interface and robust features, which make it a preferred choice for developers over other competing software options.

One of PyCharm’s standout features is its intelligent code completion, saving developers significant time when writing and debugging code. The software also provides advanced debugging tools and integrated version control, allowing developers to work more efficiently and collaborate seamlessly with their teams.

Another advantage of PyCharm is its support for various popular programming languages, such as JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. This makes it a versatile tool for developers who work across different languages and want to streamline their workflow.

Understanding the Different Versions of PyCharm and Installation Options on Fedora

PyCharm is available in three versions: Community, Professional, and Educational. While the Community version is free and open-source, the Professional and Educational versions come with additional features that cater to advanced developers, educators, and students.

The Professional version includes advanced features such as database tools, web frameworks, and remote development capabilities. In contrast, the Educational version is designed specifically for classroom settings, offering features like course management, grading, and curriculum creation tools.

When installing PyCharm on Fedora using package managers, it’s important to note that the COPR method contains only the Community version. On the other hand, the Flatpak package manager includes both the Community and Professional versions. The Snap method is the way to go if you want to install all three versions of PyCharm.

The version of PyCharm you choose to install depends on your specific needs as a developer or student. While the Community version is suitable for most users, the Professional and Educational versions come with additional tools and features that can be useful for more advanced projects or learning environments. When installing PyCharm using package managers, it’s important to select the appropriate method based on the version you require.

Update Fedora

To start installing PyCharm, first, to prevent possible conflicts, it is recommended to update your system by running the following command, ensuring that all existing packages are up to date.

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Method 1: Install PyCharm with COPR Repo

If you’re looking to install PyCharm on your Fedora system, the first option to consider is using the third-party repository by phracek/PyCharm. This is recommended as it aligns with the DNF Manager and most of the packages on your system, ensuring a smoother installation process.

While it’s important to note that this is a third-party repository, it has been around for a considerable time and is considered just as safe as any other reputable third-party repository. Fedora themselves recommend it.

To enable the necessary components for PyCharm installation using this repository, use the following command in your terminal:

sudo dnf copr enable phracek/PyCharm

This will add the required repository to your system, allowing you to install PyCharm using the DNF package manager easily.

To install the PyCharm community version, execute the following command in your terminal:

sudo dnf install pycharm-community

Method 2: Install PyCharm with Flatpak and Flathub

If you’re an intermediate Linux user and prefer using Flatpak, the second option for installing PyCharm may be more suitable for you. Flatpak is natively installed on Fedora systems and offers a solid option if you don’t want to add the community PyCharm repository as an additional source.

To begin, ensure that you have Flatpak installed on your system. If you have removed it previously, you can re-install it by running the following command in your terminal:

sudo dnf install flatpak

Next, you’ll need to enable Flatpak for Fedora by executing the following command in your terminal:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Once enabled, you can proceed with installing one or both of the PyCharm versions available from Flatpak by running the appropriate command(s) in your terminal:

flatpak install flathub com.jetbrains.PyCharm-Community

flatpak install flathub com.jetbrains.PyCharm-Professional

If you receive the error message “Unable to load summary from remote flathub: Can’t fetch summary from disabled remote ‘flathub,'” you can fix it by running the following command to enable Flathub:

sudo flatpak remote-modify --enable flathub

These commands should enable you to install PyCharm using Flatpak on your Fedora system.

Method 3: Install PyCharm with Snap

The third option for installing PyCharm on Fedora is to use the Snap package manager. Snapcraft is a popular package manager, especially amongst Ubuntu users, but keep in mind that using it may require canonical software.

To begin, you will need to install Snap on your system, as it is not natively installed on Fedora like some other distributions. You can do this by running the following command in your terminal:

sudo dnf install snapd

By default, the Snap service should start and be enabled on system startup. However, if this hasn’t occurred, you can use the following command to start and enable it:

sudo systemctl enable snapd --now

It’s important to note that some packages come in classic, which requires creating a symlink to enable classic snap support. You can do this by running the following command in your terminal:

sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap

If you’re installing Snap for the first time, it is recommended to install the core files to avoid any potential conflicts:

sudo snap install core

Next, it’s essential to reboot your system to ensure that the application icons are correctly generated, or you may face issues with missing icons or incorrect paths:

reboot

Finally, you can install one or all three versions of PyCharm, which include community, professional, and educational. You can do this by executing the appropriate command(s) in your terminal:

sudo snap install pycharm-community --classic

sudo snap install pycharm-professional --classic

sudo snap install pycharm-educational --classic

These commands should enable you to install PyCharm using Snap on your Fedora system.

How to Launch PyCharm

Once you’ve installed PyCharm using the COPR (DNF), Flatpak, or Snap method on your Fedora system, you may want to launch it from the terminal for quicker access. Here’s how you can launch PyCharm IDE from the terminal using these installation methods.

To launch PyCharm using the COPR (DNF) method, execute the following command in your terminal:

pycharm-community

This command will launch the appropriate version of PyCharm IDE installed on your system.

If you’ve installed PyCharm using the Flatpak method, you can launch it from the terminal by running the following command:

flatpak run com.jetbrains.PyCharm-Community

flatpak run com.jetbrains.PyCharm-Professional

This command will launch the corresponding version of PyCharm IDE installed via Flatpak.

Finally, if you’ve installed PyCharm using the Snap method, you can launch it from the terminal by executing the following command:

snap run pycharm-community

snap run pycharm-professional

snap run pycharm-educational

This command will launch the appropriate version of PyCharm IDE installed using Snap.

For most desktop users, an alternative way to launch PyCharm IDE is to use the application icon path. This can be done by following the steps below.

Activities > Show Applications > PyCharm {version}.

Example:

When you launch PyCharm IDE for the first time, you may encounter two pop-up windows. The first pop-up window presents the standard terms of use, which you’ll need to accept to continue using the software.

To proceed, click on the “accept” button located within the pop-up window. This will confirm your agreement with the terms of use, and you’ll be able to continue using PyCharm IDE without any restrictions.

The second pop-up window that appears when launching PyCharm IDE requests if you’d like to share anonymous data to help improve the application. You have two options to choose from:

1. “Don’t Send”
2. “Send Anonymous Statistics”

Selecting the “Don’t Send” option means no data will be sent to the developers, whereas choosing “Send Anonymous Statistics” will allow the software to collect and send anonymous usage statistics. You can choose the option that best aligns with your preferences, then clicks on the corresponding button to proceed.

When you open PyCharm IDE for the first time, you’ll be presented with the default landing screen. This screen provides you with a variety of options and tools that you can use to get started with your project. Here are a few tips and general customization options that can help you get the most out of your PyCharm IDE experience:

• Explore the UI: Take some time to explore the user interface and familiarize yourself with the various menus, toolbars, and panels.
• Customize the UI: PyCharm IDE allows you to customize the UI to suit your preferences. You can modify the layout, color scheme, font size, and other settings from the preferences menu.
• Create a new project: To create a new project, click on the “Create New Project” button on the landing screen. This will open the “New Project” window, where you can select your project type and configure your project settings.
• Open an existing project: To open an existing project, click on the “Open” button on the landing screen. This will open the “Open Project” window, where you can select your project directory and open your project.
• Use the Project view: The Project view provides a hierarchical representation of your project structure. This view can navigate your project, access files, and modify project settings.
• Use the Code Editor: PyCharm IDE’s Code Editor provides various powerful tools and features to help you write code more efficiently. These tools include syntax highlighting, code completion, code navigation, refactoring, and debugging.
• Use Version Control: PyCharm IDE includes built-in support for popular version control systems such as Git, Mercurial, and Subversion. This feature can manage your project’s source code, track changes, and collaborate with other developers.

These tips and general customization options should help you get started with PyCharm IDE and make the most of its powerful features. As you gain more experience using the software, you can explore more advanced tools and techniques to enhance your development workflow.

Example (Community):

Additional Tips

Update PyCharm IDE

Updating PyCharm IDE is essential to ensure you have access to the latest features and bug fixes. While most users rely on automatic updates or GUI notifications, the CLI update command is a more reliable and comprehensive method of checking for updates. This can help ensure that nothing is missed during the update process.

If you’re using a third-party package manager to install PyCharm, it’s especially important to use the CLI update command to ensure that your packages are updated correctly compared to DNF packages. To update PyCharm IDE, use one of the following commands based on your installation method:

For PyCharm installed via the COPR (DNF) method:

sudo dnf update --refresh

For PyCharm installed via Flatpak:

flatpak update

For PyCharm installed via Snap:

sudo snap refresh

All commands will blanket search all your applications for updates.

Remove (Uninstall) PyCharm IDE

If you no longer wish to have PyCharm IDE installed on your system, you can remove it using the appropriate commands based on your installation method. Here are the commands you’ll need to use to remove PyCharm IDE using each installation method:

For PyCharm installed via the COPR (DNF) method:

sudo dnf remove pycharm-community

This command will remove the PyCharm package and any dependencies installed with it. You’ll also need to disable the COPR repository from which you installed the community version using the following command:

sudo dnf copr disable phracek/PyCharm

For PyCharm installed via Flatpak:

To remove PyCharm Community, use the command

flatpak uninstall --delete-data com.jetbrains.PyCharm-Community

To remove PyCharm Professional, use the command

flatpak uninstall --delete-data com.jetbrains.PyCharm-Professional

For PyCharm installed via Snap:

To remove PyCharm Community, use the command

sudo snap remove --purge pycharm-community

To remove PyCharm Professional, use the command

sudo snap remove --purge pycharm-professional

To remove PyCharm Educational, use the command

sudo snap remove --purge pycharm-educational

Conclusion

In conclusion, PyCharm IDE is a powerful and versatile development tool popular among developers worldwide. Installing and using PyCharm IDE on Fedora is a straightforward process, and users can choose from various installation methods, including COPR (DNF), Flatpak, and Snap. Each installation method has advantages and disadvantages, and users can choose the one that best suits their needs.

For further information, visit the official PyCharm documentation.

FAQs on PyCharm IDE and Fedora