Possible improvement in IPython's '?' command

Python Help
1

Hello coders;

The IPython interface, as you may know, is very unique compared to CPython. It has a bunch of magic commands that grant you a ton of different things - from %javascript to %%writefile which allows you to make your own files!

And one of these commands is the ‘??’ command. If you type an object, then ??, you get a helpful handful on information regarding that object. However, when you type keywords and then ??, you get Object `keyword_name`* not found.

So I propose that even these keywords are given at least a docstring or something to explain what they do. This way, if you stumble upon a new keyword, you can just type ?? after it, and you get its meaning.

*keyword_name stands for whatever keyword you have before the ??.

2

If you think I’m wrong, just search ‘ipython try for free’ and try it yourself.

3

IPython is a separate project from cpython and has its own discussion forums. Its page on pypi.python.org should suggest where.

4

It is an interesting request imo, but (if people decide they want to include it in ipython) it should be achieved by modifying ipython/IPython/core/interactiveshell.py at main · ipython/ipython · GitHub, not core python.

Good luck convincing the maintainers & community :slight_smile:

5

List IPython magic commands: %lsmagic
Help on Python keyword (e.g. break): help('break')
IPython help: (bare) ?

6

oh i did not know.