Django's 'shell' command should use the Python Interactive window

[rchiodo]

The tutorial for Django has this command:

python manage.py shell

It would be cool if this could use the interactive window instead (it opens an ipython kernel)

[rchiodo]

I believe this would work if we set the DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE environment variable before starting.

(See here for more information: https://www.b-list.org/weblog/2007/sep/22/standalone-django-scripts/)

[eleanorjboyd]

@anthonykim1 curious of your thoughts on this and if this is something that could relate to your repl work.

[anthonykim1]

Thanks @eleanorjboyd
There are still much work and sorting that needs to happen between plain REPL in Python for VS Code vs. Interactive Window . I know Django is a web framework but still lacking some context for Django shell other than its a shell that reads settings.py and goes and find all application in settings.py and then preload those application then gives you a shell.

@rchiodo Are there any specific reasons you wanted to use Python Interactive window and/or iPython? This would be helpful in thinking about what is needed in REPL rewrite that is happening #21707 and the native VS Code REPL experience towards the end of the rewrite.

[rchiodo]

Oh so you could get intellisense and have the output like a notebook window. Here's a good demonstration of the django shell:

https://www.nickmccullum.com/useful-features-django-shell/

It looks a lot like an IPython shell.

[rchiodo]

Meaning you'd run python code to check how things look.

[anthonykim1]

Now we have intellisense via Native REPL, but it might still be helpful to merge this issue with #13027 since I assume there are some scripts and environment variables that are Django specific that we can set before launching each Native REPL session. Folks who were interested in this issue, please go ahead and upvote the referenced issue #13027