Is there a way to make python become interactive in the middle of a script?

Question

I'd like to do something like:

do lots of stuff to prepare a good environement
become_interactive
#wait for Ctrl-D
automatically clean up

Is it possible with python?If not, do you see another way of doing the same thing?

Thanks to all! For the record, the easiest way to use the code module to achieve this is the following: import code code.interact(local=globals()) — static_rtti, Apr 12 '10 at 12:15
To get local variables into the namespace as well, you need `code.interact(local=dict(globals(), **locals())`. Note the addition of `**locals`. I was wondering this question myself, and your comment was the best answer I found :-) — Cody Piersall, Jul 03 '13 at 21:34

score 12 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 09 '10 at 17:19

Use the -i flag when you start Python and set an atexit handler to run when cleaning up.

File script.py:

import atexit
def cleanup():
    print "Goodbye"
atexit.register(cleanup)
print "Hello"

and then you just start Python with the -i flag:

C:\temp>\python26\python -i script.py
Hello
>>> print "interactive"
interactive
>>> ^Z

Goodbye

score 9 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 09 '10 at 15:44

9

The code module will allow you to start a Python REPL.

answered Apr 09 '10 at 15:44

Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams

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score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 03 '13 at 13:50

8

With IPython v1.0, you can simply use

from IPython import embed
embed()

with more options shown in the docs.

answered Oct 03 '13 at 13:50

beardc

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You can use this anywhere and it preserves the scope. – Joel Sjögren Oct 05 '14 at 13:54
I whish I had known this before ! Thank you – Maxx Jul 01 '18 at 18:33

score 7 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 12 '10 at 04:15

To elaborate on IVA's answer: embedding-a-shell, incoporating code and Ipython.

def prompt(vars=None, message="welcome to the shell" ):
    #prompt_message = "Welcome!  Useful: G is the graph, DB, C"
    prompt_message = message
    try:
        from IPython.Shell import IPShellEmbed
        ipshell = IPShellEmbed(argv=[''],banner=prompt_message,exit_msg="Goodbye")
        return  ipshell
    except ImportError:
        if vars is None:  vars=globals()
        import code
        import rlcompleter
        import readline
        readline.parse_and_bind("tab: complete")
        # calling this with globals ensures we can see the environment
        print prompt_message
        shell = code.InteractiveConsole(vars)
        return shell.interact

p = prompt()
p()

score 5 · Answer 5 · answered Apr 09 '10 at 15:45

Not exactly the thing you want but python -i will start interactive prompt after executing the script.

-i : inspect interactively after running script, (also PYTHONINSPECT=x) and force prompts, even if stdin does not appear to be a terminal

$ python -i your-script.py
Python 2.5.4 (r254:67916, Jan 20 2010, 21:44:03) 
...
>>>

score -1 · Answer 6 · answered Apr 09 '10 at 15:43

-1

You may call python itself:

import subprocess

print "Hola"

subprocess.call(["python"],shell=True)

print "Adios"

answered Apr 09 '10 at 15:43

OscarRyz

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Is there a way to make python become interactive in the middle of a script?

6 Answers6

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