IPython

iPython is a nice shell for Python.

Installation from Source

Building it

Download the latest version here: http://archive.ipython.org/release/

Unzip it:

$ tar xzf ipython-1.12.0.tar.gz -C ~/pkg/_sources/

Build it and install it, being sure to point it to the correct version of Python:

$ python setup.py build

$ python setup.py install --prefix=${HOME}/pkg/ipython/1.12.0

make it the standard version:

$ ln -fs ${HOME}/pkg/ipython/{1.12.0,std}

iPython will make its own executable, instead of running "python" you run "ipython". Put the ipython command in $PATH and $PYTHONPATH by putting this in your favorite dot file:

export PATH="${HOME}/pkg/ipython/std/bin:${PATH}"

export PYTHONPATH="${HOME}/pkg/ipython/std/lib/python2.7/site-packages

Testing your build

Once you've done all of this, you should be able to issue the command and see the prompt:

$ ipython

Python 2.7.1 (r271:86882M, Nov 30 2010, 10:35:34) 
Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

IPython 0.12.1 -- An enhanced Interactive Python.
?         -> Introduction and overview of IPython's features.
%quickref -> Quick reference.
help      -> Python's own help system.
object?   -> Details about 'object', use 'object??' for extra details.

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