PyCharm has emerged as a leading integrated development environment (IDE) in Python development. Its reputation is built on a foundation of user-centric design and features that streamline the coding process. For those using Fedora Linux and looking to harness the capabilities of PyCharm, understanding how to install PyCharm on Fedora Linux is essential.
Why Choose PyCharm for Fedora Linux?
- Intelligent Code Assistance: PyCharm offers smart code completion, accelerating the coding process by predicting the programmer’s intent and reducing the chance of errors.
- Advanced Debugging Tools: Debugging becomes a more straightforward task with PyCharm, thanks to its tools designed to identify and rectify code anomalies.
- Integrated Version Control: Collaboration is made easier with PyCharm’s built-in version control, facilitating seamless teamwork and ensuring code consistency.
In the subsequent sections, we’ll guide you through the steps to install PyCharm on Fedora Linux, ensuring you’re well-equipped to embark on your Python development journey.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Update Fedora Before PyCharm Installation
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
Step 2: Select PyCharm Installation Method on Fedora
Method 1: Install PyCharm with COPR Repo on Fedora
If you want to install PyCharm on your Fedora system, the first option is to use the third-party repository 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 via Flathub on Fedora
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 remember that using it may require canonical software.
First, you must 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 PyCharm versions, including 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.
Step 3: How to Launch PyCharm on Fedora
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. 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, the application icon path is an alternative way to launch PyCharm IDE. This can be done by following the steps below.
Activities > Show Applications > PyCharm {version}.
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 the “accept” button in the pop-up window. This will confirm your agreement with the terms of use, and you can 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:
- “Don’t Send”
- “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 click 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 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 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 start 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.
Additional Commands & Tips for PyCharm on Fedora
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.
Suppose you’re using a third-party package manager to install PyCharm. In that case, using the CLI update command is essential 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; users can choose the one that best suits their needs.
For further information, visit the official PyCharm documentation.