Start IPython kernel from within Python script

Question

Say I have the following file t.py:

from IPython import get_ipython

if __name__ == '__main__':
    ip = get_ipython()
    if ip is not None:
        print('Found IPython')

Here's what happens if I run it, with both Python and IPython:

% python t.py
% ipython t.py 
Found IPython

Note that, only when running it with ipython, is get_ipython() not None.

Is there a way to start an IPython kernel from within the script, so that even if I run it as python t.py, then get_ipython() will not be None?

user_652122 · Answer

IPython starts new interactive shell, i.e. your code will be suspended until IPython shell is terminated.

You can have a launcher in a separate file, launcher.py:

import IPython

if __name__ == '__main__':
    IPython.start_ipython(['t.py'])

% python launcher.py
Found IPython