About IPython
The story behind productive interactive computing
Project History
IPython (Interactive Python) was created by Fernando Pérez in 2001 as a more powerful interactive shell for Python. It evolved from Mathematica's notebook interface and was designed to improve the interactive computing experience.
Over the years, IPython became the foundation for Jupyter notebooks and the broader Project Jupyter ecosystem, revolutionizing how scientists, data analysts, and educators work with code.
IPython and Project Jupyter
Since IPython 4.0 (released in 2015), the language-agnostic components were separated into Project Jupyter. IPython now focuses specifically on interactive Python computing as a Jupyter kernel and terminal interface.
Today, IPython is a core component of the Jupyter ecosystem, providing the powerful interactive Python backend for notebooks, JupyterLab, and other tools.
Modern Architecture
IPython is organized into several key components:
Terminal IPython
A powerful command-line interface for interactive Python.
IPython Kernel
Backend for Jupyter notebooks and JupyterLab.
Traitlets
Configuration and type system used by IPython and Jupyter.
Display System
Rich output rendering for notebooks and terminals.
Governance
IPython is part of Project Jupyter and operates under a community-driven governance model. The project is guided by the Jupyter Governance Council and maintained by volunteers from the open-source community.
Development decisions are made transparently through GitHub discussions, pull requests, and community meetings. Anyone can contribute to IPython regardless of their background or experience level.
Current Maintainer(loading...)
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Developers & Contributors
IPython is built and maintained by a vibrant community of developers and contributors from around the world. Here are some of the key contributors to the project:
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Please visit our GitHub contributors page to see all contributors.
Want to contribute? Check out our GitHub repository to get started!
License
IPython is released under the BSD 3-Clause License, which allows free use in both commercial and non-commercial projects.