add IPython.parallel.bind_kernel

for using an Engine's Kernel with connecting frontends.

IPython/lib/kernel.py

@@ -46,11 +46,11 b' def get_connection_file(app=None):'
         If unspecified, the currently running app will be used
     """
     if app is None:
-        from IPython.zmq.kernelapp import KernelApp
-        if not KernelApp.initialized():
+        from IPython.zmq.ipkernel import IPKernelApp
+        if not IPKernelApp.initialized():
             raise RuntimeError("app not specified, and not in a running Kernel")
 
-        app = KernelApp.instance()
+        app = IPKernelApp.instance()
     return filefind(app.connection_file, ['.', app.profile_dir.security_dir])
 
 def find_connection_file(filename, profile=None):

IPython/parallel/__init__.py

@@ -38,4 +38,25 b' from .client.view import *'
 from .util import interactive
 from .controller.dependency import *
 
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Functions
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def bind_kernel(**kwargs):
+    """Bind an Engine's Kernel to be used as a full IPython kernel.
+    
+    This allows a running Engine to be used simultaneously as a full IPython kernel
+    with the QtConsole or other frontends.
+    
+    This function returns immediately.
+    """
+    from IPython.parallel.apps.ipengineapp import IPEngineApp
+    if IPEngineApp.initialized():
+        app = IPEngineApp.instance()
+    else:
+        raise RuntimeError("Must be called from an IPEngineApp instance")
+    
+    return app.bind_kernel(**kwargs)
+
 

IPython/parallel/apps/ipengineapp.py

@@ -230,19 +230,25 b' class IPEngineApp(BaseParallelApplication):'
         except AttributeError:
             config.EngineFactory.sshserver = d['ssh']
     
-    def listen_kernel(self):
-        """setup engine as listening Kernel, for frontends"""
+    def bind_kernel(self, **kwargs):
+        """Promote engine to listening kernel, accessible to frontends."""
         if self.kernel_app is not None:
             return
         
-        self.log.info("Opening ports for direct connections")
+        self.log.info("Opening ports for direct connections as an IPython kernel")
         
         kernel = self.kernel
         
-        app = self.kernel_app = IPKernelApp(log=self.log, config=self.config,
-                                profile_dir = self.profile_dir,
-                                session=self.engine.session,
-        )
+        kwargs.setdefault('config', self.config)
+        kwargs.setdefault('log', self.log)
+        kwargs.setdefault('profile_dir', self.profile_dir)
+        kwargs.setdefault('session', self.engine.session)
+        
+        app = self.kernel_app = IPKernelApp(**kwargs)
+        
+        # allow IPKernelApp.instance():
+        IPKernelApp._instance = app
+        
         app.init_connection_file()
         # relevant contents of init_sockets: