IDLE vs. Wing Python IDE vs. pexpect vs. pywinauto Comparison Chart

IDLE is Python’s Integrated Development and Learning Environment. IDLE has the following features: - coded in 100% pure Python, using the tkinter GUI toolkit - cross-platform: works mostly the same on Windows, Unix, and macOS - Python shell window (interactive interpreter) with colorizing of code input, output, and error messages - multi-window text editor with multiple undo, Python colorizing, smart indent, call tips, auto completion, and other features - search within any window, replace within editor windows, and search through multiple files (grep) - debugger with persistent breakpoints, stepping, and viewing of global and local namespaces - configuration, browsers, and other dialogs

Pexpect makes Python a better tool for controlling other applications. Pexpect is a pure Python module for spawning child applications; controlling them, and responding to expected patterns in their output. Pexpect works like Don Libes’ Expect. Pexpect allows your script to spawn a child application and control it as if a human were typing commands. Pexpect can be used for automating interactive applications such as ssh, FTP, passwd, telnet, etc. It can be used to automate setup scripts for duplicating software package installations on different servers. It can be used for automated software testing. Pexpect is in the spirit of Don Libes’ Expect, but Pexpect is pure Python. Unlike other Expect-like modules for Python, Pexpect does not require TCL or Expect nor does it require C extensions to be compiled. It should work on any platform that supports the standard Python pty module. The Pexpect interface was designed to be easy to use.