Bash function to alias python command with ipython when no arguments are used

Question

I would like to alias python with ipython only when no arguments are follows so that I can use ipython's shell and its autocompletion feature. For example:

#This should start the ipython shell
python 

#These should run python as usual
python -c "print(100)" #run print in python
python --version #run python --version

I am trying with something like

python() {
if [ "$#" -eq 0 ]; 
then
    ipython
else
    eval $(printf "%q " "python $@")     #python --help: command not found
    #eval $(printf 'python %s\n' "$@")   #infinite loop calling python function
fi
}

aless80 · Accepted Answer · 2020-01-24 13:49:39Z

1

No need for the eval. This function uses env to run the "default" python command

function python() {
    if [ "$#" -eq 0 ]; 
    then
        ipython
    else
        env python "$@" # will run python wherever it's installed
    fi
}

edited Jan 24, 2020 at 13:49

aless80

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answered Jan 24, 2020 at 13:39

Paul Evans

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3 Comments

aless80 Over a year ago

but then I will get in trouble when changing the default location for python, or when using a virtual environment (or at least I think)

Paul Evans Over a year ago

Edited answer to fix that problem.

chepner Over a year ago

env python doesn't do anything that python alone doesn't already do. env performs path lookup the same way the shell does.

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