[Python-ideas] Should iPython Notebook replace Idle

[Sturla Molden]

Todd <toddrjen at gmail.com> wrote:

> More out-there, but it probably isn't completely impossible for python to
> provide some sort of native notebook-like interface, or at least some sort
> of interface that makes it convenient for third parties to make such
> notebook interfaces.

It will not be possible because of this:

https://jupyter.org

Having Jupyter in the Python standard library would screw over the Julia
and R users.

Also, more extensive Python distros like Anaconda and Enthought Canopy
include IPython/Jupyter by default. I think it is more important to start
to direct users to select these than to include Jupyter in the standard
lib. This is particularly important because of the growing number of
essential packages that are not in the standard lib (e.g. NumPy, Cython,
Numba, matplotlib, wxPython, Twisted, pymq, Sqalchemy, etc.) and the
complex package dependencies. Another question is whether python.org should
provide links to these installers, or even maintain a similar Python stack
with a package manager (I am not sure if pip can handle all the
complexities sufficient).


Sturla