Python has always offered an interactive mode. The IPython Notebook environment constitutes an extremely multi-faceted and updated extension [1]. Besides many useful tools like direct shell commands, improved help functions, and runtime measurement for program parts, IPython Notebook connects source text with graphics, wiki-like texts, and everything that HTML5 has to offer in one interactive document. Users working with Python should not ignore the advantages of using Notebook.
Entering python in the command line starts the so-called "Read-eval-print loop" (REPL) [2]. REPL delivers a result once a code line is entered. IPython, however, offers a much improved version of REPL. Although its origins are in the scientific community, many sys admins and developers should not do without IPython Notebook.
Using a shell has some disadvantages. In addition to the limitation of one entry per line, users struggle with the ephemeral nature of the input mechanism. The IPython Notebook does offer a command history that reaches across sessions so that, when restarting, the user can find all previously entered commands. Still, IPython Notebook is much more convenient because it saves all input. The output types can include text, HTML, images, and even GUI elements.
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