Integrating Twisted reactor with IPython (Python recipe) by Matthew Scott

ActiveState Code (http://code.activestate.com/recipes/410670/)

"""ipy.py"""

try:
    from IPython.Shell import MTInteractiveShell
    from IPython.ipmaker import make_IPython

    import threading


    def hijack_reactor():
        """Modifies Twisted's reactor with a dummy so user code does
        not block IPython.  This function returns the original
        'twisted.internet.reactor' that has been hijacked.

        NOTE: Make sure you call this *AFTER* you've installed
        the reactor of your choice.
        """
        from twisted import internet
        orig_reactor = internet.reactor

        class DummyReactor(object):
            def run(self):
                pass
            def __getattr__(self, name):
                return getattr(orig_reactor, name)
            def __setattr__(self, name, value):
                return setattr(orig_reactor, name, value)
        
        internet.reactor = DummyReactor()
        return orig_reactor
    

    class IPShellTwisted(threading.Thread):
        """Run a Twisted reactor while in an IPython session.

        Python commands can be passed to the thread where they will be
        executed.  This is implemented by periodically checking for
        passed code using a Twisted reactor callback.
        """

        TIMEOUT = 0.01 # Millisecond interval between reactor runs.

        def __init__(self, argv=None, user_ns=None, debug=1,
                     shell_class=MTInteractiveShell):

            from twisted.internet import reactor
            self.reactor = hijack_reactor()

            mainquit = self.reactor.stop

            # Make sure IPython keeps going after reactor stop.
            def reactorstop():
                pass
            self.reactor.stop = reactorstop
            reactorrun_orig = self.reactor.run
            self.quitting = False
            def reactorrun():
                while True and not self.quitting:
                    reactorrun_orig()
            self.reactor.run = reactorrun
            
            self.IP = make_IPython(argv, user_ns=user_ns, debug=debug,
                                   shell_class=shell_class,
                                   on_kill=[mainquit])

            threading.Thread.__init__(self)

        def run(self):
            self.IP.mainloop()
            self.quitting = True
            self.IP.kill()

        def mainloop(self):
            self.reactor.callLater(self.TIMEOUT, self.on_timer)
            self.start()
            self.reactor.run()
            self.join()

        def on_timer(self):
            self.IP.runcode()
            self.reactor.callLater(self.TIMEOUT, self.on_timer)
        
            
    exists = True

    
except ImportError:
    exists = False


if __name__ == '__main__':
    # Sample usage.

    # Create the shell object. This steals twisted.internet.reactor
    # for its own purposes, to make sure you've already installed a
    # reactor of your choice.
    shell = IPShellTwisted(
        argv=[],
        user_ns={'__name__': '__example__',
                 'hello': 'world',
                 },
        )

    # Run the mainloop.  This runs the actual reactor.run() method.
    # The twisted.internet.reactor object at this point is a dummy
    # object that passes through to the actual reactor, but prevents
    # run() from being called on it again.
    shell.mainloop()

    # You must exit IPython to terminate your program.
    print 'Goodbye!'