# Install ipython with Homebrew, apk, pacman, apt, dnf, zypper

Interactive computing in Python. Version 9.16.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-08-01. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install ipython3.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:ipython
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install ipython
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

### Linux

- apk (92%):

```sh
sudo apk add ipython
```

  Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: ipython from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

- pacman (92%):

```sh
sudo pacman -S ipython
```

  Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: ipython from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz

- Debian apt (92%):

```sh
sudo apt install ipython3
```

  Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: ipython3 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

- dnf (92%):

```sh
sudo dnf install python3-ipython
```

  Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: python3-ipython from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst

- zypper (92%):

```sh
sudo zypper install python313-ipython
```

  Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: python313-ipython from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:ipython
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 9.16.0
- **Source summary:** Interactive computing in Python
- **Homepage:** <https://ipython.org/>
- **Repository:** <https://github.com/ipython/ipython>
- **Last updated:** 2026-08-01T10:35:14Z
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- ipython (alias)
- ipython3 (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 9.16.0
## Project history and usage

IPython is the influential interactive Python shell and computing environment that helped define modern Python REPL ergonomics: rich introspection, history, magic commands, colored tracebacks, object display, shell integration, and a profile-based configuration system.

### Project history

The official IPython history says Fernando Perez started IPython in 2001 while a graduate student at the University of Colorado, Boulder. It grew from three projects: Perez's ipython, Janko Hauser's IPP, and Nathan Gray's LazyPython.

Perez's stated goal was to combine shell-like features, IDL/Matlab-style numerical work, Mathematica-like prompt and output history, and strong object introspection into a unified Python environment. That origin explains why IPython became both a programmer convenience tool and a scientific-computing foundation.

IPython later became the human-facing terminal shell part of a larger interactive-computing ecosystem. The Jupyter split moved notebooks, kernels, and language-agnostic protocols into Jupyter projects, while IPython continued as the Python terminal shell, kernel implementation lineage, and library of interactive features.

The long 8.x release notes show ongoing adaptation to Python version changes, prompt-toolkit behavior, debugger behavior, magics, rich display, and even experimental LLM completion hooks, while preserving the central command-line shell identity.

### Adoption history

IPython was adopted heavily in scientific Python because it made exploratory programming feel closer to mathematical systems while remaining ordinary Python. It became a common dependency or companion for NumPy, SciPy, matplotlib, notebooks, teaching environments, and data-analysis workflows.

Package managers matter to IPython's spread: it is shipped by Homebrew and major Linux distributions, while Python users also install it through Python packaging tools. That dual identity makes it both a system package and a Python ecosystem package.

### How it is used

Users run the ipython command for an enhanced REPL with tab completion, introspection, command history, magics, shell escapes, debugging helpers, rich tracebacks, and custom display hooks. Configuration lives under IPython profiles, including files such as ipython_config.py and ipython_config.json.

IPython is also used indirectly by tools that embed interactive shells, expose kernels, or rely on IPython display and completion behavior. Its API surface is larger than the visible command because interactive Python became a platform for other developer tools.

### Why package nerds care

IPython is package-nerd significant because it is a package that changed user expectations for a language runtime's shell without replacing the language. Its dependency graph, configuration files, terminal integration, and split history with Jupyter make it more than just a binary named ipython.

It is also a case study in ecosystem boundary-setting: notebooks, kernels, and protocols became Jupyter projects, while IPython kept the Python-specific shell and interactive machinery.

### Timeline

- 2001: Fernando Perez starts IPython at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
- 2001: IPython combines ideas from ipython, IPP, and LazyPython.
- 2014: The broader IPython notebook ecosystem moves toward the Jupyter project identity.
- 2015: IPython 4 era aligns with the Jupyter split, leaving IPython focused on Python-specific interactive pieces.
- 2022: The 8.x series begins for modern Python versions and prompt-toolkit based terminal workflows.
- 2025: 8.x release notes document Python 3.13 compatibility and experimental LLM completion work.

### Related projects

- IPython is related to Jupyter, IPykernel, prompt_toolkit, jedi, traitlets, NumPy, SciPy, matplotlib, IPP, LazyPython, and Python's standard interactive interpreter.

### Sources

- <https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/ipython>
- <https://github.com/ipython/ipython>
- <https://ipython.org/documentation.html>
- <https://ipython.readthedocs.io/en/stable>
- <https://ipython.readthedocs.io/en/stable/about/history.html>
- <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ipython/ipython/main/docs/source/whatsnew/version8.rst>


## Security Notes

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

- **Geiger risk:** green / low
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals


## Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.


## Configuration files

- Unix: ~/.ipython/profile_default/ipython_config.py, ~/.ipython/profile_default/ipython_config.json
## Other Package-Manager Records

- Debian apt - ipython3 - 8.35.0-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: ipython3 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Enhanced interactive Python 3 shell | https://github.com/ipython/ipython
- Debian apt - python-ipython-doc - 8.35.0-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: python-ipython-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Enhanced interactive Python shell (documentation) | https://github.com/ipython/ipython
- Debian apt - python3-ipython - 8.35.0-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: python3-ipython from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Enhanced interactive Python shell (Python 3 version) | https://github.com/ipython/ipython
- Ubuntu apt - ipython3 - 8.20.0-1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: ipython3 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Enhanced interactive Python 3 shell | https://github.com/ipython/ipython
- Ubuntu apt - python-ipython-doc - 8.20.0-1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: python-ipython-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Enhanced interactive Python shell (documentation) | https://github.com/ipython/ipython
- Ubuntu apt - python3-ipython - 8.20.0-1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: python3-ipython from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Enhanced interactive Python shell (Python 3 version) | https://github.com/ipython/ipython
- apk - ipython - 9.16.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: ipython from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A rich toolkit to help you make the most of using Python interactively | https://ipython.org/
- apk - ipython-doc - 9.16.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: ipython-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A rich toolkit to help you make the most of using Python interactively (documentation) | https://ipython.org/
- apk - ipython-pyc - 9.16.0-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: ipython-pyc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Precompiled Python bytecode for ipython | https://ipython.org/
- dnf - python3-ipython - 9.15.0-2.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: python3-ipython from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst | An enhanced interactive Python shell | http://ipython.org/
- dnf - python3-ipython+test - 9.15.0-2.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: python3-ipython+test from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst | Metapackage for python3-ipython: test extras | http://ipython.org/
- dnf - python3-ipython-sphinx - 9.15.0-2.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: python3-ipython-sphinx from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst | Sphinx directive to support embedded IPython code | http://ipython.org/
- pacman - ipython - 9.16.0-1: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: ipython from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Enhanced Interactive Python shell | https://ipython.org
- zypper - python313-ipython - 9.10.0-1.4: installed executable or alias match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: python313-ipython from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | Rich architecture for interactive computing with Python | https://github.com/ipython/ipython
- zypper - python314-ipython - 9.10.0-1.4: installed executable or alias match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: python314-ipython from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | Rich architecture for interactive computing with Python | https://github.com/ipython/ipython


## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/ipython.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/ipython.yml)


## Sources

- pkg.so package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- external package-manager database matches
- cross-ecosystem install command graph