Spyder is an open-source cross-platform integrated development environment (IDE) for scientific programming in the Python language. Spyder integrates with a number of prominent packages in the scientific Python stack, as well as other open-source software. Created by Pierre Raybaut and released in 2009 under the MIT license, since 2012 Spyder has been maintained and continuously improved by Python developers and the community.
Spyder is extensible with first-party and third-party plugins, and includes support for interactive tools for data inspection and embeds Python-specific code quality assurance and introspection instruments, such as Pyflakes, Pylint and Rope. Spyder uses Qt for its GUI and is designed to use either of the PyQt or PySide Python bindings. QtPy, a thin abstraction layer developed by the Spyder project and later adopted by multiple other packages, provides the flexibility to use either backend.
From the Wikipedia article “Spyder (software)”, CC BY-SA 4.0
What is Spyder?
Spyder by Spyder Project Contributors and others (developed by Carlos Córdoba) is open-source Windows software in the ides & code editors category. The first release dates back to 2009. It is written in Python. Besides Windows, it is available for Linux, macOS and Unix-like operating system.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (NSIS) installers for 64-bit Windows. It can be installed for the current user only, without administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 6.1.7, released on August 28, 2026. The version history goes back to September 2, 2021: 50 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 10 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (spyder-ide/spyder) has 9,373 stars. Wikipedia has an article about it in 12 of our languages. On Windows it registers 60 file types, including .html, .htm, .txt, .md and .xml. Similar programs include RStudio, OpenCode and Apache NetBeans.
Project description on GitHub: “Official repository for Spyder - The Scientific Python Development Environment”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Installs without administrator rights
- Frequent updates (about 10 a year)
- Opens 60 file types
- Also runs on Linux, macOS and Unix-like operating system
- Large user base
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: Spyder is an open-source ides & code editor tool for 64-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Screenshots
Is Spyder safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
B1A643E499922C360BC782FC59DD6F0F5FFB5FB4AAA26113B08A0A4264D06ACC· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Security practices (OpenSSF Scorecard)
Automated checks of the spyder-ide/spyder repository on GitHub by the Open Source Security Foundation, last run on October 19, 2026.
- No dangerous workflows10
- Security policy10
- Actively maintained10
- No binaries in the repository10
- Licence declared10
- Code review7
- Branch protection5
- Restricted token permissions0
- OpenSSF Best Practices badge0
- Signed releases0
- Static code analysis0
- Fuzzing0
- Pinned dependencies0
The score rates how the project is developed and released, not whether the program is safe to install. scorecard.dev
Recent versions
All 50 versions ›50 versions over 5 years · about 10 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1.7Latest | August 28, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 6.1.6 | July 29, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 6.1.5 | June 27, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 6.1.4 | April 7, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 6.1.3 | February 13, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 6.1.2 | December 18, 2025 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 6.1.1 | November 25, 2025 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 6.1.0 | October 2, 2025 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Spyder.Spyder -escoop install extras/spyderSpyder-Windows-x86_64.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask spyderflatpak install flathub org.spyder_ide.spyderInformation
- Publisher
- Spyder Project Contributors and others
- Developer
- Carlos Córdoba and Pierre Raybaut
- Category
- IDEs & code editors
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/spyder-ide/spyder
- Written in
- Python
- Content rating
- All ages
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Other platforms
- Linux, macOS, Unix-like operating system
- Version
- 6.1.7
- Released
- August 28, 2026
- First release
- 2009
- Added to the catalogue
- September 2, 2021
- Versions listed
- 50
- Updates / year
- 10
- GitHub stars
- 9,373
- GitHub forks
- 1,822
- Website
- spyder-ide.org
- winget ID
- Spyder.Spyder
- Scoop package
- extras/spyder
File types it opens (60)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Spyder free?
Yes. Spyder is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is Spyder safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Spyder with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Spyder be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does Spyder run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of Spyder?
The versions page lists all 50 versions with links to their official installer files, back to September 2, 2021.
Can I use Spyder without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to Spyder?
RStudio, OpenCode, Apache NetBeans, Node.js (LTS) and Thonny. The alternatives page compares them.
