Ipyai

ipyai

`ipyai` is terminal IPython with an AI assistant on the same transcript. It is built on [teleprint](https://github.com/answerdotai/teleprint): code cells, outputs, AI replies, and images all print through to the terminal's own scrollback, with a status bar and input line repainted at the bottom. History stays native: scroll, search, and copy with your terminal or tmux as usual.

Install

pip install -e .

ipyai is a [rustygate](https://github.com/answerdotai/rustygate) client: a running local rustygate serves the kernels, like any Jupyter client setup. A plain launch creates a fresh kernel and shuts it down on exit; `ipyai -k PREFIX` attaches to an existing gateway kernel instead, taken as found and left running on exit.

Models

Models live in one flat namespace: a vendor-prefixed string such as `codex/gpt-5.6-terra` (the default), `anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6`, or `claude_code/claude-sonnet-4-6`. The prefix carries the transport as well as the vendor: `claude_code/` drives your Claude Code subscription while `anthropic/` uses an API key, for the same model name. Switch mid-session with `%ipyai model NAME`.

Modes

ipyai has three modes, one per interpreter: `code` (the IPython kernel, the default), `prompt` (the AI), and `shell` (a persistent shell). `alt-c`/`alt-p`/`alt-s` pick a mode directly, and clicking the `[mode]` segment in the status bar cycles them. The composer mark shows where you are (`»»» `, `››› `, `$$$ `), and an empty input hints the keys for the other two modes. Start in prompt mode with `ipyai -p` or `"prompt_mode": true` in config.

A prefix overrides the mode for one submission, from anywhere: `.` sends a prompt, `;` runs code, a leading `!` runs shell. So in code mode:

.explain what this dataframe transform is doing

Each AI turn sends the session so far: executed cells with their outputs, notes, shell commands, and earlier prompts and replies. Inside a prompt, `` $`name` `` includes a live variabl