Why IPy: reasons for using IPython interactively

#1

Post by ZygmuntZ » Sat, Jan 25, 2014, 6:59 PM UTC

Why IPy: reasons for using IPython interactively
fastml.com

Re: Why IPy: reasons for using IPython interactively

#2

Post by Walkman » Sat, Jan 25, 2014, 7:59 PM UTC

I don't get why is this on front page. IPython is awesome, enough said. If you are not using it, you are doing it wrong.

Re: Why IPy: reasons for using IPython interactively

#3

Post by randlet » Sat, Jan 25, 2014, 8:23 PM UTC

Walkman wrote: post #2

I don't get why is this on front page. IPython is awesome, enough said. If you are not using it, you are doing it wrong.

The IPython debugger ipdb also makes a great replacement for the builtin pdb.

Re: Why IPy: reasons for using IPython interactively

#4

Post by akanet » Sat, Jan 25, 2014, 8:38 PM UTC

I use IPython for the interactive python part of https://coderpad.io - being able to run a block of code and drop you into a REPL on an exception with full syntax coloring and context is killer.

Re: Why IPy: reasons for using IPython interactively

#5

Post by paulgb » Sat, Jan 25, 2014, 8:51 PM UTC

IPython's built-in notebook mode (ipython notebook) entirely changed how I use Python. It's like an interactive session you can go save, reproduce, and publish.

Re: Why IPy: reasons for using IPython interactively

#6

Post by overgard » Sat, Jan 25, 2014, 8:59 PM UTC

How does ipy work with virtual envs? I've always admired the feature list, but my assumption is that it doesn't really run in a virtual env, would that be accurate?

Re: Why IPy: reasons for using IPython interactively

#7

Post by nsfmc » Sat, Jan 25, 2014, 9:05 PM UTC

overgard wrote: post #6

How does ipy work with virtual envs? I've always admired the feature list, but my assumption is that it doesn't really run in a virtual env, would that be accurate?

it works fine with virtualenvs, on osx, you can do

    virtualenv env
    . ./env/bin/activate
    easy_install readline
    pip install ipython

on linux, you can avoid the readline install. i have no idea what the windows scene is, but at least for the past four or so years, i've never had a problem with virtualenvs and ipython.

Re: Why IPy: reasons for using IPython interactively

#8

Post by doug1001 » Sat, Jan 25, 2014, 9:20 PM UTC

i've been a moderate fan of ipython; it's the ipython notebook that changed everything for me.

i can have everything inline: syntax-highlignted code, markdown, dynamic plots, and LaTeX equations.

(some examples: http://nbviewer.ipython.org/github/ipython/ipython/blob/mast...)

what's more, you can share you work as a static .ipynb document or dynamically via a server (rather than your localhost, which is the default).

Re: Why IPy: reasons for using IPython interactively

#9

Post by Derbasti » Sat, Jan 25, 2014, 9:27 PM UTC

paulgb wrote: post #5

IPython's built-in notebook mode (ipython notebook) entirely changed how I use Python. It's like an interactive session you can go save, reproduce, and publish.

Yes, and a hundred times yes for teaching.

Re: Why IPy: reasons for using IPython interactively

#10

Post by vonseel » Sat, Jan 25, 2014, 10:16 PM UTC

%paste is a nifty but simple trick that I find really useful