Add an option to use the IPython Qt console as a MantidPlot interpreter terminal

[Russell Taylor]

We intend to replace the current MantidPlot python 'interpreter' terminal with the IPython qt console (​http://ipython.org).

Martyn prototyped a method for getting this to work, which is at ​https://github.com/martyngigg/embedded_ipython

[Russell Taylor]

Fake methods to make IPython import possible in scripting window.

Should be temporary as in this case we wouldn't want the output redirected to the scripting console. Re #4273.

Changeset: 725563cdb72911d405516b16c788354072165a3d

[Russell Taylor]

Some links relevant to this work:

• ​http://mail.scipy.org/pipermail/ipython-dev/2011-February/007188.html
• ​https://github.com/Sharpie/qgis-ipython
• ​https://github.com/ipython/ipython/tree/master/docs/examples/lib
• ​https://github.com/ipython/ipython/issues/1085

[Russell Taylor]

Possible issue: matplotlib appears to have some commands that are the same as qtiplot (e.g. plot, table).

[Russell Taylor]

Add scripts to launch IPython console. Re #4273.

Also add a menu item & shortcut (F5) to start the console. This is only visible if IPython is available.

Changeset: 4c0ce693003635dc94a6011d9b6f879ca82c54a1

[Russell Taylor]

Quiet messages on failure to import IPython. Re #4273.

Changeset: 36b2034b36c90cb8412ada8c1e2af44433edfead

[Russell Taylor]

Bring in the Mantid definitions irrespective of the cwd. Re #4273.

Changeset: df0a5f0e74e224d968fb1bcd9bc74350df66b26f

[Russell Taylor]

Add ipython startup directory to Windows installer. Re #4273.

Haven't got it to work under Windows yet, but I'm fairly confident I will and it doesn't do any harm having it there.

Changeset: 9809cf9b9c1e56141199610cbcae97252057ae81

[Russell Taylor]

Fix Windows installer generation. Re #4273.

Changeset: c92dc43424576137eba3c64c0f5404da87c9c0a3

[Janik Zikovsky]

Here are the steps I needed to do to get this to work under Ubuntu 11.04:

• sudo apt-get install uuid-dev
• Get and build zeromq 2.11+ from ​http://www.zeromq.org/intro:get-the-software
• Get and build ipython 0.12 from ​http://ipython.org/download.html

  sudo ldconfig 
  easy_install pyzmq
  

[Nick Draper]

Moved to iteration 33 at iteration 32 code freeze

[Russell Taylor]

Still need to get this working on Mac (hopefully just need to get/build 64 bit matplotlib) and windows, and then write some instructions. Shouldn't need to make any more modifications to the checked-in code itself.

[Russell Taylor]

Instructions are at: http://www.mantidproject.org/IPython_Console

[Russell Taylor]

Changes to IPython console launching scripts for windows. Re #4273.

The IPython function used to launch the console uses sys.executable, assuming it to be the python executable. For us, it is on Linux/Mac but on Windows that gives the MantidPlot executable. Cue a period of confusion when hitting F5 started another MantidPlot!

Changeset: d79beecb9ea94bfd91ac97b69e16ad8b32e848da

[Russell Taylor]

Enable console to be relaunched after closing. Re #4273.

Or to have multiple consoles open if desired.

Changeset: ed55cd740a44dffbaf5c27c3bba631ee47780389

[Russell Taylor]

Fix so console can be relaunched on Windows. Re #4273.

Changeset: e9cb6bd83b838c81e6c7d704723eebe523a98507

[Russell Taylor]

I've now managed to get this working on all platforms. Tester: See the instructions page referenced under comment 14.

[Russell Taylor]

For possible future work, this is relevant: ​http://mail.scipy.org/pipermail/ipython-dev/2012-January/008552.html

One of the contributors to the thread is from the SNS, so there may be help available if needed!

See also the links under comment 3.

[Andrei Savici]

Seems to be working. I was able to Load a file and ExtractX.

[Stuart Campbell]

This ticket has been transferred to github issue ​5120