iPython

iPython web site

iPython interactive Tired of importing the same things every time? ~/.ipython/profile_default/startup/ lets you store commands to execute every time you start ipython... For graphical (plot) display, you probably want to start ipython with --matplotlib --pylab, e.g.: alias ipy 'ipython --matplotlib --pylab' in your .cshrc file.

iPython notebooks

iPython notebook documentation

Starting a new ipython notebook

ipython notebook (may need to add --browser=firefox)
in upper right, pull down New, and select Python 2
after working, save your notebook using the File menu

Opening a pre-existing ipython notebook

ipython notebook {name} (or select from file list)

Working inside an ipython notebook: markdown vs. code cells

Two main types of cells: code (for Python code) and markdown (for text/comments).
Cells are exectued using shift-enter
Note that if you execute a blank markdown cell, you get some funny text!

Display matplotlib figures inline

In first cell, include:
import matplotlib
%matplotlib inline
You will likely want to also include:
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt