ipython reads wrong python version

Solution 1:

Okay quick fix:

which python

gives you /usr/bin/python, right? Do

which ipython

and I bet that'll be /usr/local/bin/ipython. Let's look inside:

Edit 9/7/16 -- The file now looks like this:

cat /usr/local/bin/ipython

#!/usr/bin/python

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
import re
import sys

from IPython import start_ipython

if __name__ == '__main__':
    sys.argv[0] = re.sub(r'(-script\.pyw|\.exe)?$', '', sys.argv[0])
    sys.exit(start_ipython())

And mine works properly like this, but my situation isn't exactly like the OP's.

Original answer -- 9/30/13:

cat /usr/local/bin/ipython

#!/usr/bin/python
# EASY-INSTALL-ENTRY-SCRIPT: 'ipython==0.12.1','console_scripts','ipython'
__requires__ = 'ipython==0.12.1'
import sys
from pkg_resources import load_entry_point

if __name__ == '__main__':
    sys.exit(
        load_entry_point('ipython==0.12.1', 'console_scripts', 'ipython')()
    )

Aha - open /usr/local/bin/ipython in your editor (with privileges), and change the first line to

#!/usr/local/bin/python

save, start iPython, should say it's using the version you want now.

Solution 2:

Posting @Matt's comment as an answer just so its more visible

python -m IPython

Loads ipython as a module with whatever python is accessible on the path first. In my case I had one pre-installed and one I added from brew. This just works perfectly.