spyder

Spyder is a name used for several unrelated products and concepts. The two most widely recognized usages are in software as an integrated development environment for Python, and in automotive branding as a designation for open-top, two-seat sports cars.

Spyder (software) refers to the open-source scientific Python development environment. It provides an editor, an interactive console (often IPython), a variable explorer, and debugging and profiling tools. It emphasizes integration with scientific libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, and Matplotlib, and supports code completion, object introspection, and syntax highlighting. Spyder is cross-platform and commonly bundled with the Anaconda distribution; it is built with PyQt and is extensible via plugins. Development is community-driven, with code hosted on public repositories and releases under permissive licenses.

In automotive usage, Spyder is the spelling used by some brands to denote open-top or racing-oriented convertibles. The term evokes the Italian word for spider and is associated with a lightweight, performance-focused silhouette. A notable historical example is the Porsche 550 Spyder, a mid-1950s race car that helped define the lightweight, mid-engine roadster concept. Since then, various manufacturers have employed the Spyder designation for convertible or performance variants, sometimes alongside the Spider spelling, in marketing and model nomenclature.

Other uses include brand names and fictional references in media, but less widely recognized than the software and automotive senses. Overall, Spyder most commonly denotes the Python IDE in modern computing and a convertible/roadster connotation in automotive contexts.