How to save a Python interactive session?

Question

I find myself frequently using Python's interpreter to work with databases, files, etc -- basically a lot of manual formatting of semi-structured data. I don't properly save and clean up the useful bits as often as I would like. Is there a way to save my input into the shell (db connections, variable assignments, little for loops and bits of logic) -- some history of the interactive session? If I use something like script I get too much stdout noise. I don't really need to pickle all the objects -- though if there is a solution that does that, it would be OK. Ideally I would just be left with a script that ran as the one I created interactively, and I could just delete the bits I didn't need. Is there a package that does this, or a DIY approach?

UPDATE: I am really amazed at the quality and usefulness of these packages. For those with a similar itch:

• IPython -- should have been using this for ages, kind of what I had in mind
• reinteract -- very impressive, I want to learn more about visualization and this seems like it will shine there. Sort of a gtk/gnome desktop app that renders graphs inline. Imagine a hybrid shell + graphing calculator + mini eclipse. Source distribution here: http://www.reinteract.org/trac/wiki/GettingIt . Built fine on Ubuntu, integrates into gnome desktop, Windows and Mac installers too.
• bpython -- extremely cool, lots of nice features, autocomplete(!), rewind, one keystroke save to file, indentation, well done. Python source distribution, pulled a couple of dependencies from sourceforge.

I am converted, these really fill a need between interpreter and editor.

Answer 1

In addition to IPython, a similar utility bpython has a "save the code you've entered to a file" feature

Answer 2

If you use bpython, all your command history is by default saved to ~/.pythonhist.

To save the commands for later reusage you can copy them to a python script file:

$ cp ~/.pythonhist mycommands.py

Then edit that file to clean it up and put it under Python path (global or virtual environment's site-packages, current directory, mentioning in *.pth, or some other way).

To include the commands into your shell, just import them from the saved file:

>>> from mycommands import *

Answer 3

I'd like to suggest another way to maintain python session through tmux on linux. you run tmux, attach your self to the session you opened (if not attached after opening it directly). execute python and do whatever you are doing on it. then detach from session. detaching from a tmux session does not close the session. the session remains open.

pros of this method: you can attach to this session from any other device (in case you can ssh your pc)

cons of this method: this method does not relinquish the resources used by the opened python session until you actually exist the python interpreter.

Answer 4

After installing Ipython, and opening an Ipython session by running the command:

ipython

from your command line, just run the following Ipython 'magic' command to automatically log your entire Ipython session:

%logstart

This will create a uniquely named .py file and store your session for later use as an interactive Ipython session or for use in the script(s) of your choosing.

Answer 5

For those using spacemacs, and ipython that comes with python-layer, save magic creates a lot of unwanted output, because of the constant auto-completion command working in the backround such as:

len(all_suffixes)
';'.join(__PYTHON_EL_get_completions('''len'''))
';'.join(__PYTHON_EL_get_completions('''all_substa'''))
len(all_substantives_w_suffixes)
';'.join(__PYTHON_EL_get_completions('''len'''))
';'.join(__PYTHON_EL_get_completions('''all'''))
';'.join(__PYTHON_EL_get_completions('''all_'''))
';'.join(__PYTHON_EL_get_completions('''all_w'''))
';'.join(__PYTHON_EL_get_completions('''all_wo'''))
';'.join(__PYTHON_EL_get_completions('''all_wor'''))
';'.join(__PYTHON_EL_get_completions('''all_word'''))
';'.join(__PYTHON_EL_get_completions('''all_words'''))
len(all_words_w_logograms)
len(all_verbs)

To avoid this just save the ipython buffer like you normally save any other: spc f s

Answer 6

http://www.andrewhjon.es/save-interactive-python-session-history

import readline
readline.write_history_file('/home/ahj/history')