IPython - importing/populating namespace with custom magic

Question

The %pylab magic in IPython imports a bunch of functions into the user's workspace, which is very convenient. Looking at the code, it's not at all obvious how this is done. What I have so far is a magic function in my startup folder:

from IPython.core.magic import register_line_magic

@register_line_magic
def import_my_functions(line):
    """
    Import functions into namespace somehow....
    e.g. import numpy as np
    """

It then should be possible:

In[1]: %import_my_functions
 imported the following:
   numpy as np
   .....
In[2]: np
Out[2]: <module 'numpy' from ..../venv/lib/python2.7/site-packages/numpy/__init__.pyc'>

Bonus would be if the command also reloads changed modules.

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:25:12Z

3

Advice 1: Don't use %pylab.

Advice 2: don't try to imitate pylab usage it will bite you

If you want to have convenient import create your own package and do from mypackage import *

If you really want a magic that have access to python namespace you should see this question. and add the @needs_local_scope decorator.

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:25

CommunityBot

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answered Feb 24, 2015 at 17:35

Just M

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2 Comments

Peter Over a year ago

I've been using from mypackage import * but it lacks certain things. (1) It cannot reload changed modules. (2) It won't let me define things differently based on an argument (e.g., I'd like to define a "redraw" function differently based on whether I've specified inline plotting or not. (3) I cannot invoke other magics (like the mysterious %matplotlib inline) from the import.

Just M Over a year ago

Fair enough for (1) though, you could probably have a function that takes arguments, go up one frame and modify globals. But that might be a bit too hackish.

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