IPython Namespaces

Extension for IPython/Jupyter Notebooks that adds namespaces that you can enter and re-enter.

(Because: “Namespaces are one honking great idea – let’s do more of those!”)

Usage (in a Jupyter Notebook)

Install and load the extension:

!pip install -U ipython-namespaces
%load_ext ipython_namespaces

Use the space cell magic:

foo = 23

%%space dustin

bar = 42
foo, bar

Output: (23, 42)

foo, bar

Output: NameError: name 'bar' is not defined

%%space dustin

foo, bar

Output: (23, 42)

from ipython_namespaces import Namespaces

Namespaces.dustin['bar']

Output: 42

Features

1. Separate namespaces within one Jupyter Notebook
2. Access to other namespaces via the Namespaces class
3. Unchanged behavior of display – the value of the last line in a cell is displayed
4. Unchanged behavior of tracebacks – the problematic line in one’s own code is highlighted

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Davide Sarra and the Jupyter Spaces extension for the inspiration!