IPython

Assorted notes on using the ipython interactive shell. Official documentation is at http://ipython.org.

See also: General programming, Python notes pages.

Basics

  • Pylab - Starting ipython with the --pylab option imports numpy and matplotlib libraries into the workspace.

  • Inline help - Following any object of function name with a "?" gives info or documentation about the item.

  • Shell access - to run a command in the system shell prefix it with an exclamation point: !ping www.bbc.co.uk

  • ipdb - ipython has an enhanced debugger (not sure if this is enabled by default :!:)

Magic commands

IPython "magic" commands operate only within IPython, and are prefaced by %. If the flag %automagic is set, then magic commands can be called without the %. (%automagic is on by default.). These commands include:

  • Functions that work with code: %run, %edit, %save, %macro, %recall, etc.
  • Functions which affect the shell: %colors, %xmode, %autoindent, etc.
  • Other functions such as %reset, %timeit or %paste.
  • To see all the available magic functions, call %lsmagic.
  • Thislists all the core magic functions.`

%run

Run any python script and load all of its data directly into the interactive namespace. Since the file is re-read from disk each time, changes you make to it are reflected immediately (unlike imported modules, which have to be specifically reloaded). %run has special flags for timing the execution of your scripts (-t), or for running them under the control of either Python’s pdb debugger (-d) or profiler (-p).

You can step through a program from the beginning by calling %run -d theprogram.py

%who, %whos

Print all interactive variables, with minimal (%who) or extensive (%whos) formatting. If any arguments are given, only variables whose type matches one of these are printed. For example:

#This will list functions and strings, excluding all other types of variables
%who function str

%edit

Gives a reasonable approximation of multiline editing, by invoking your favorite editor on the spot. IPython will execute the code you type in there as if it were typed interactively.

%debug, %pdb, %prun

After an exception occurs, you can call %debug to jump into the Python debugger (pdb) and examine the problem. Alternatively, if you call %pdb, IPython will automatically start the debugger on any uncaught exception. %prun will run a statement through the python code profiler.