bpython – an excellent interpreter for python

If you use Python, you know that its interactive shell is a great way to test out ideas and iterate quickly.  Unfortunately, the basic interactive shell is very barebones – there is no syntax highlighting, autocompletion, or any of the features we come to expect from working in IDEs.  Fortunately if you’re on a Unix system, there is a great program called bpython which adds all of those missing features.

 

As you are typing, suggestions appear at the bottom. Press tab to take the suggestion

 

If you have easy_install, it’s the simplest thing in the world to install:

sudo easy_install bpython

I can’t recommend this product enough.  It’s free, so what’re you waiting for?