11 Essential PyCharm Tips and Shortcuts for Python Development

PyCharm is one of the most popular IDEs for Python development, offering strong compatibility and rich features such as debugging, syntax highlighting, and intelligent code assistance, and it also supports web frameworks like Django, greatly improving development efficiency once mastered.

For beginners, the abundance of options can be overwhelming, so this guide introduces eleven of the most commonly used PyCharm tricks and shortcuts to help new users get up to speed quickly.

1. Common Tips

1. Set Code Font

Open File → Settings → Font , adjust the Size (default 12) to 18 or 20 for better readability.

2. Adjust Menu Text Size

Go to File → Settings → Appearance , enable Use custom font and choose a suitable size for the UI text.

3. Multi‑line Comment/Uncomment

Select multiple lines and press Ctrl+/ to toggle comments.

4. Code Reformatting

Use Code → Reformat Code to automatically clean up inconsistent spacing and layout.

5. Rename Variable or Class Globally

Select the identifier, right‑click, choose Refactor → Rename , and apply the change across the project.

6. Quick Search

Press Ctrl+F to locate variables, functions, or any text within the current file.

7. View Local History

Right‑click a file and choose Local History to browse previous versions and revert changes.

8. Configure Pip Mirrors (Domestic Source)

Set the Python interpreter’s repository to https://pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/simple via File → Settings → Project → Python Interpreter → Manage Repositories → + .

9. Install Packages

Open File → Settings → Project → Python Interpreter → + , type the package name (e.g., pygame ) and click Install Package .

10. Debugging

Click the gutter next to a line to set a breakpoint, then choose Debug ‘<em>project name</em>’ to run the program step‑by‑step and inspect variable values.

11. Set a Custom Background

Navigate to File → Settings → Appearance &amp; Behavior → Appearance → Background Image , select an image, adjust its opacity (around 10%) and display mode.

2. Common Keyboard Shortcuts

A summary image of frequently used PyCharm shortcuts is provided to help developers work faster.

Conclusion

The article encourages users not to rely on localized versions of development tools, emphasizing that most professional software is primarily available in English; mastering the English interface ensures better stability and broader compatibility.