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ptpython VS iPython

Compare ptpython VS iPython and see what are their differences

ptpython logo ptpython

a better Python REPL

iPython logo iPython

iPython provides a rich toolkit to help you make the most out of using Python interactively.
  • ptpython Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-02
  • iPython Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-07

ptpython features and specs

  • Syntax Highlighting
    Ptpython provides syntax highlighting which makes the code easier to read and write, helping users to identify elements such as keywords, strings, and variables quickly.
  • Autocompletion
    The tool offers powerful autocompletion, allowing for faster code writing by suggesting variable names, functions, and methods as you type.
  • Vi and Emacs Keybindings
    Support for both Vi and Emacs keybindings means users can navigate and edit code using their preferred text-editing shortcuts, enhancing productivity and comfort.
  • Embeddable
    Ptpython can be embedded in other applications, providing a flexible option to integrate an interactive shell within custom projects.
  • Customizable Configuration
    Users can customize various options in ptpython using a Python file, allowing for a highly personalized interactive environment.

Possible disadvantages of ptpython

  • Dependency on prompt-toolkit
    Ptpython requires the installation of the prompt-toolkit library, adding a dependency that needs to be managed within your environment.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    For those unfamiliar with interactive Python shells or text-editor keybindings, ptpython might present a steeper learning curve compared to simpler alternatives like the default Python REPL.
  • Resource Consumption
    The advanced features of ptpython, such as real-time syntax highlighting and auto-completion, may consume more system resources compared to the standard Python shell.
  • Limited Library Support
    While ptpython itself is well-supported, users might encounter compatibility issues or lack of support with other third-party libraries or extensions they wish to use.
  • Potential for Overhead
    For simple tasks or quick tests, the additional features of ptpython may introduce unnecessary overhead compared to using a basic Python shell.

iPython features and specs

  • Interactive Computing
    IPython provides a rich toolkit to help you make the most out of using Python interactively. This includes powerful introspection, rich media display, session logging, and more.
  • Ease of Use
    IPython includes features like syntax highlighting, tab completion, and easy access to the help system, which make writing and understanding code easier for users.
  • Rich Display System
    It supports rich media like images, videos, LaTeX, and HTML, making it very useful for data visualization and educational purposes.
  • Extensibility
    IPython is highly extensible and can be customized with a range of plugins, extensions, and different backends to suit various needs.
  • Enhanced Debugging
    It features enhanced debugging capabilities, including an improved traceback support and better handling of exceptions.

Possible disadvantages of iPython

  • Learning Curve
    For beginners, the extensive feature set of IPython may be overwhelming and have a steep learning curve.
  • Resource Intensive
    IPython, particularly Jupyter notebooks, can be resource-intensive, leading to slow performance on large datasets or complex computations.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies can be challenging, especially when using multiple packages in the same environment, which can lead to conflicts.
  • Limited IDE Features
    While IPython has many interactive features, it lacks some of the more advanced IDE features such as comprehensive code refactoring tools and integrated version control.
  • Exporting and Sharing
    Although you can export notebooks in various formats, sharing them in a way that preserves full interactivity can be complex compared to traditional scripts.

ptpython videos

A BETTER PYTHON REPL (READ EVAL PRINT LOOP) - PTPYTHON

iPython videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ptpython and iPython)
Python IDE
28 28%
72% 72
Text Editors
27 27%
73% 73
IDE
25 25%
75% 75
Data Science IDE
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, iPython should be more popular than ptpython. It has been mentiond 19 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ptpython mentions (11)

  • Why Lisp?
    If you like using the REPL, for Python I recommend you try https://github.com/prompt-toolkit/ptpython. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Tools for productivity
    REPL??? Do you have a very-easy-to-use way of running and testing your code? From vim-slime to nvim sniprun to autocommands with the built in terminal, to an external repl like ptpython (for python obviously). iron.nvim and conjure are two other neovim repl plugins. There are many ways of running the code that you're working on, and having something that makes this really easy for you is pretty essential.... Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is there a vim mode for zsh ?
    I use ptpython for my python repl https://github.com/prompt-toolkit/ptpython. I find it very convenient because it has a vim mode, and many vim similarities. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is there a way to make the Python IDLE auto-close brackets and quotations?
    A library like ptpython should be what you're looking for, however this probably isn't an option for an exam setting. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Where do I go after learning lua?
    Create a repl to the standard that ptpython sets for python (both croissant and ilua leave a lot to be desired). Source: over 2 years ago
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iPython mentions (19)

  • Modern Python REPL in Emacs using VTerm
    As alluded to in Poetry2Nix Development Flake with Matplotlib GTK Support, I’m currently in the process of getting my “new” python workflow up to speed. My second problem, after dependency and environment management, was that fancy REPLs like ipython or ptpython don’t jazz well with the standard comint based inferior python repl that comes with python-mode. One can basically only run ipython with the... - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • Wanting to learn how to code, but completely lost.
    Third, if possible use a command line interpreter to test things out. I recommend ipython for this purpose. You can use your browser's developer console this way if you are learning Javascript. Source: about 2 years ago
  • IJulia: The Julia Notebook
    IJulia is an interactive notebook environment powered by the Julia programming language. Its backend is integrated with that of the Jupyter environment. The interface is web-based, similar to the iPython notebook. It is open-source and cross-platform. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • How to "end" a loop in the REPL?
    Also, take a look at installing iPthon to give you a much richer shell environment. This underpins Jupyter Notebooks, so is well known, proven and trusted. Source: about 2 years ago
  • State of Object Oriented Shells for *nix
    I know this isn't quite what you're asking for, but IPython (https://ipython.org/) is very capable as a Python + bash (or other) shell, as it allows you to easily integrate the system shell into the interactive environment. Although they now recommend Xonsh (https://xon.sh/) for such purposes. Source: about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing ptpython and iPython, you can also consider the following products

bpython - bpython is a fancy interface to the Python interpreter for Unix-like operating systems (I hear it...

PyCharm - Python & Django IDE with intelligent code completion, on-the-fly error checking, quick-fixes, and much more...

Jupyter - Project Jupyter exists to develop open-source software, open-standards, and services for interactive computing across dozens of programming languages. Ready to get started? Try it in your browser Install the Notebook.

IDLE - Default IDE which come installed with the Python programming language.

PyScripter - PyScripter is a free and open-source Python Integrated Development Environment (IDE) created with...

IPython Notebook - One document with code, text, math, charts and rich media.