[IPython-user] IPython.ipapi.launch_new_instance tries to execute all files in sys.argv!

[Matthew Wilson]

I have a script that takes an optional argument of a data file at the

When I provide the data file, IPython tries to execute that file.  Here's an
example:

    $ cat bug.py
    import IPython.ipapi

    IPython.ipapi.launch_new_instance()

Without any arguments to bug.py, everything is fine:

    $ python bug.py
      Python 2.6.2 (release26-maint, Apr 19 2009, 01:56:41) 
      Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

      IPython 0.9.1 -- An enhanced Interactive Python.
      ?         -> Introduction and overview of IPython's features.
      %quickref -> Quick reference.
      help      -> Python's own help system.
      object?   -> Details about 'object'. ?object also works, ?? prints more.

      In [1]: 

But when I give an argument of a file to bug.py, I get this error:

    $ python bug.py ~/.vimrc 
    ------------------------------------------------------------
       File "/home/matt/.vimrc", line 1
         "This is a homemade file that probably needs to be organized better.
                                                                            ^
    SyntaxError: EOL while scanning string literal

    WARNING: Failure executing file: </home/matt/.vimrc> (c)
    Python 2.6.2 (release26-maint, Apr 19 2009, 01:56:41) 
    Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

    IPython 0.9.1 -- An enhanced Interactive Python.
    ?         -> Introduction and overview of IPython's features.
    %quickref -> Quick reference.
    help      -> Python's own help system.
    object?   -> Details about 'object'. ?object also works, ?? prints more.

    In [1]: 

However, when I add on an argument that is NOT a file, I don't get an error:

    $ python bug.py 123
    Could not open file <123> for safe execution.
    Python 2.6.2 (release26-maint, Apr 19 2009, 01:56:41) 
    Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

    IPython 0.9.1 -- An enhanced Interactive Python.
    ?         -> Introduction and overview of IPython's features.
    %quickref -> Quick reference.
    help      -> Python's own help system.
    object?   -> Details about 'object'. ?object also works, ?? prints more.

    In [1]: 

Instead, I get the message that IPython couldn't safely execute my file, which
is still bad.

I found this code in line 90 of ipmaker.py that seems to be relevant:

    if argv is None:
        argv = sys.argv


A few questions:

1.  Is IPython.ipapi.launch_new_instance the right way to start an IPython
    session?

2.  Is this a bug?


IPython is great.


Matt