most aspects of the appearance (colorspromptspacing between linesetc and behavior of the ipython shell are configurable through an extensive configuration system here are some of the things you can do via configurationchange the color scheme change how the input and output prompts lookor remove the blank line after out and before the next in prompt change how the input and output prompts look execute an arbitrary list of python statements these could be imports that you use all the time or anything else you want to happen each time you launch ipython enable ipython extensionslike the %lprun magic in line_profiler define your own magics or system aliases all of these configuration options are specified in special ipython_config py file which will be found in the ~config/ipythondirectory on unix-like systems and %home %ipythondirectory on windows where your home directory is depends on your system configuration is performed based on particular profile when you start ipython normallyyou load upby defaultthe default profilestored in the pro file_default directory thuson my linux os the full path to my default ipython configuration file is/home/wesmconfig/ipython/profile_default/ipython_config py 'll spare you the gory details of what' in this file fortunately it has comments describing what each configuration option is forso will leave it to the reader to tinker and customize one additional useful feature is that it' possible to have multiple profiles suppose you wanted to have an alternate ipython configuration tailored for particular application or project creating new profile is as simple is typing something like ipython profile create secret_project once you've done thisedit the config files in the newly-created pro file_secret_project directory then launch ipython like so ipython --profile=secret_project python |epd ( -bit)(defaultjul : : type "copyright""creditsor "licensefor more information ipython -an enhanced interactive python -introduction and overview of ipython' features %quickref -quick reference help -python' own help system object-details about 'object'use 'object??for extra details ipython profilesecret_project advanced ipython features www it-ebooks info