Forge

A small Python IDE, built by hand.

Forge is a Python editor, made as a hobby project. Expect everything from a normal editor, and more.

Download for Windows View on GitHub

Version 0.47.0 · also for Linux · needs Python 3 · install notes

Forge
main start fetch_users GitHub API clean save 

      

    


    
    

      

        
The usual things

        

          
Tabs, a file tree, search across the project, find and replace, a terminal, a debugger and a test runner. Completion, go to definition and rename come from basedpyright, a Python language server built on Pyright.

          
The editor itself, from the text buffer to how each line is drawn, is written from scratch instead of borrowed from Monaco or CodeMirror.

        

      

    


    
    

      
A map of your project

      
The graph shows your files and functions, and which ones call which. If it's open when you press Run, you can watch your program move through it: the function that's running lights up, and a spark runs along each call. The program itself runs just as it would without it.

    


    
    

      
Boxes for web APIs

      
Put a box on the graph and give it an address. Forge makes one test call so you can see what comes back, you pick the fields you want, and it writes a plain Python function that saves them to a CSV. It's ordinary code, so you can read it and change it.


      

        

          
Placeholder API

          
          
          

            
            
          

          

            Fields to save
            
Press Test call to see what the API sends back.

          

        

        

          
api/placeholder.py, the function for this request

          

          
placeholder_users.csv

          
The preview appears after the test call.

        

      

    


    
    

      
A layout for each job

      
The window has a layout for writing code, one for the graph, one for debugging and one for running. You can move any panel, and Forge remembers where you put it.

      

        

          
          
Code Files, the editor, and a map of where the file fits.

        

        

          
          
Connect The project graph, with boxes for APIs.

        

        

          
          
Debug Opens on its own when you start debugging.

        

        

          
          
Run The editor beside the output and tests.

        

      

    


    
    

      
How far along it is

      
Forge is still early, and some things you'd expect aren't there yet. Each square is one item on the project's checklist; the filled ones are done.

      
    
      
     done  still to do
    
    
    

    
    
    
      
    Download
    
      
    Forge 0.47.0 for 64-bit Windows and Linux. Once installed, Forge checks for new versions and can update itself (Settings → Updates). On 0.46.1? Its update check is broken, so download this version once by hand.
    
      
    Windows
    
      
      
        
    1. Download the installer and run it. It installs just for you, so you don't need admin rights.
      2. 
        
    2. Windows may warn you, because Forge isn't signed yet. Click More info, then Run anyway.
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    3. If you don't have Python 3, install it. Forge uses it to run and debug your code.
      4. 
      
    
      
    
        Download the installer (133 MB)
        Portable version, no install (117 MB)
      
    
      
    Linux
    
      
      
        
    1. AppImage (any distribution, updates itself): download it, then chmod +x Forge-0.47.0-x86_64.AppImage and run it.
      
          
      If it says libfuse.so.2 is missing, install FUSE 2 (Ubuntu and Debian: sudo apt install libfuse2, or libfuse2t64 on Ubuntu 24.04), or start it with ./Forge-0.47.0-x86_64.AppImage --appimage-extract-and-run. That works without FUSE, but unpacks first, so it takes 30 seconds or so to open.
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    2. .deb (Debian, Ubuntu, Mint): sudo apt install ./Forge-0.47.0-amd64.deb, then open Forge from your apps.
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    3. Python 3 is usually there already; if not, install it with your package manager.
      4. 
      
    
      
    
        Download the AppImage (137 MB)
        Download the .deb (108 MB)
      
    
      
    To check a download, compare its SHA-256 with the Windows checksums or the Linux checksums.
    
      
    Older versions are on the releases page. There's no Mac build yet, but you can build Forge from source on a Mac.
    
    
    

    
    
    
      
    Build from source
    
      
      
        
    1. Install Node.js 22 or newer, and Python 3 for running your code.
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    2. Get the source:
      git clone https://github.com/louisatron84/IDEforfun.git forge
cd forge
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    3. Install and start it:
      npm install
npm run dev
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      View on GitHub