# IPython

13 Hacker News commenters recommended IPython and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 6 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** People recommend IPython as a richer interactive Python shell than the default, with tab completion, color-coded output and debugging help.

## Why people recommend it

- Better REPL than default Python or irb (3 comments): "much better repl (out of the box and excellent, installable ipython)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46437997)) "I prefer ipython over irb" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46386069)) "IPython, you had a nice REPL with graphing to use all that from" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45852234))
- Helps debugging and iteration (2 comments): "incredibly helpful for debugging and iteration" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49976116)) "I make a ton of progress with ipython" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46257963))
- Tab completion and color-coded output (2 comments): "ipython saved me this week when it color coded" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47881355)) "IPython does tab-complete filenames" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45913184))
- Runs in terminals and on phones (2 comments): "Try running ipython inside a vim terminal" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46258047)) "now I can run iPython on my phone" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45888931))

## What people warn about

- Notebook interface not a terminal replacement (1 comments): "The notebook interface popularized by iPython is an interesting one, but it's not really a replacement for a terminal." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45900702))

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "IPython", https://hackerapproved.com/p/ipython/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).