Anvil vs Spyder

Anvil is an online IDE for building and deploying full-stack web apps with Python. It pairs a drag-and-drop interface designer with client-side and server-side Python, and includes Data Tables, a built-in database backed by Postgres. Apps can be published to Anvil hosting or exported to run on the open-source Anvil App Server. Developers can create HTTP APIs and connect external Python code through Uplink. Built-in user authentication and app email support cover sending and receiving messages. Anvil documentation lists integrations for Google, Microsoft Entra ID, Facebook, Stripe and Tableau, and says Python SDKs can connect other services. Apps adapt to phones and tablets; the FAQ describes them as installable Progressive Web Apps for Android, iPhone and Chromebook, with offline operation. The Free plan includes unlimited apps and cloud hosting, but provides 50,000 Data Table rows and 100 MB of Data Table storage. Anvil says its hosted infrastructure is in London on AWS eu-west-2. It also says its API removes common flaws such as injection, XSS and CSRF.

Spyder is a free, open-source scientific Python development environment for scientists, engineers, and data analysts. Its Editor can create, open, and edit source files, highlight syntax, and run files, lines, selections, or code cells. The IPython Console includes code completion, function calltips, debugger integration, a Variable Explorer, and Matplotlib plots. The Variable Explorer lets users inspect and edit lists, dictionaries, NumPy arrays, and Pandas DataFrames, and plot or visualize supported objects. Spyder 6’s Debugger pane supports execution control, stack navigation, and breakpoint management. The project documents built-in integration with Matplotlib, NumPy, Pandas, and other scientific Python libraries. Standalone installers include Python and common scientific libraries; users can connect an external Python distribution for additional packages. Third-party plugins currently require installation in a Conda or virtual environment, and documentation says a built-in plugin manager is in development for Spyder 6.2. Spyder is available for Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. The project permits use, modification, and redistribution, including commercial use, though Anaconda distribution terms may separately affect some large enterprises.