IPython workflow (edit, run)
ipython, python, python-idle, user-interface
Solution
When I'm working with python, I usually have two terminal windows open - one with IPython, and the other with a fairly customized Vim.
Two good resources:
- http://blog.dispatched.ch/2009/05/24/vim-as-python-ide/
- http://dancingpenguinsoflight.com/2009/02/python-and-vim-make-your-own-ide/
Though it sounds like what you want is IPython's magic function `%ed`/`%edit`:
An example of what you can do:
In [72]: %ed
IPython will make a temporary file named: c:\docume~1\wjwe312\locals~1\temp\ipython_edit_ar8veu.py
In the file I put:
x = "Hello World"
print 3
After saving and quitting the file:
Editing... done. Executing edited code...
3
Out[72]: "x = 'Hello world'\nprint 3\n"
In [73]: x
Out[73]: 'Hello world'
You can define functions or anything else - just remember that the contents of the file will be executed when you close it.
Another similar workflow is to `cd` to the directory containing your Python script that you're editing with your favorite editor. Then you can `%run` the script from within IPython and you'll have access to everything defined in the file. For instance, if you have the following in the file `test.py` in your `/home/myself` directory:
class Tester(object):
def __init__(self):
print "hi"
def knightme(name):
print "Hello, Sir ", name
Then you can do the following:
In [42]: cd /home/myself
/home/myself
In [43]: %run test.py # <Tab> autocomplete also works
In [44]: knightme('John')
Hello, Sir John
In [45]: t = Tester()
Hi
Either a mix or one of those workflows should give you something very similar to the way you're used to working in IDLE.
Problem
Is there a GUI for IPython that allows me to open/run/edit Python files? My way of working in IDLE is to have two windows open: the shell and a .py file. I edit the .py file, run it, and interact with the results in the shell. Is it possible to use IPython like this? Or is there an alternative way of working?