IPython - Command Line Options

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In this chapter, let us understand how to work with various command line options in IPython.

Invoking IPython Program

You can invoke an IPython program using the following options −

C:\python36> ipython [subcommand] [options] [-c cmd | -m mod | file] [--] [arg]

The file option is a Python script with .py extension. If no other option is given, the script is executed and command prompt reappears.

C:\python36>ipython hello.py
Hello IPython
welcome to interactive computing

Subcommands and Parameters

An IPython command accepts the following subcommand options −

• Profile − Create and manage IPython profiles.

• Kernel − Start a kernel without an attached frontend.

• Locate − Print the path to the IPython dir.

• History − Manage the IPython history database.

An IPython profile subcommand accepts the following parameters −

• ipython profile create myprofile − Creates a new profile.

• ipython profile list − Lists all available profiles.

• ipython locate profile myprofile − Locates required profile.

To install new IPython kernel, use the following command −

Ipython kernel –install –name

To print the path to the IPython dir, use the following command −

C:\python36>ipython locate myprofile
C:\Users\acer\.ipython

Besides, we know that −

• The history subcommand manages IPython history database.

• The trim option reduces the IPython history database to the last 1000 entries.

• The clear option deletes all entries.

Some of the other important command line options of IPython are listed below −

The sample usage of some of the IPython command line options are shown in following table −