Along the same lines, there is the awesome Python Tools for Visual Studio plug-in that turns Visual Studio into full fledged Python IDE: https://microsoft.github.io/PTVS/
It supports CPython, IronPython, IPython, IntelliSense, mixed Python/C++ debugging, remote debugging, profiling, etc. And best of all? It's also open source.
I would assume a big portion of the 150 MB+ executable is the Electron runtime. Unless they switch to a true native app like the others, I don't think it can be any smaller than it is now.
Yep, it was called Project Astoria. Sadly, MS pulled the plug on it a little while ago.
The rumors are that it was cancelled because it actually worked too well. The original expectation was that devs had to do a little bit of work to make the app(s) work on Windows Phone but it was looking like they didn't have as much work as they would they would.
This was concerning for MS as they thought that devs wouldn't put much effort into making the app work properly on WP and would just release the same version as Android. Not to mention, there would never be a reason for devs to switch to developing UWP apps, if their Android apps could just be ported without much effort.
It supports CPython, IronPython, IPython, IntelliSense, mixed Python/C++ debugging, remote debugging, profiling, etc. And best of all? It's also open source.