IPython

IPython is a comprehensive environment that can help advanced computer users such as programmers or developers test or explore various functions. Although Python comes with a robust interactive interpreter that enables users to run tests without needing to create additional documents on the target computer, it comes with some limitations regarding user-software interaction.

The three core components of IPython include a highly interactive shell for Python, a decoupled two-process communication model and architecture for interactive parallel computing. The interactive shell offers users tab completion, system shell access, object introspection, a specific command system that implements additional functions and command history retrieval between different sessions.

It also can be embedded and used as an interpreter for other programs. The shell can be summoned from within another program, providing users with multiple possibilities, especially for debugging.

Whenever users start the console, two processes are started: a kernel and a client based on Qt that can send/receive commands to the kernel. The decoupled two-process model lets users connect several clients to the same kernel, even if the clients and kernels are located on different systems. Users can choose to skip creating a new kernel whenever they start the console and connect to the most recently accessed one.