add IPython.embed_kernel() This patch adds IPython.embed_kernel() as a public API. Embedding an IPython kernel in an application is useful when you want to use IPython.embed() but don't have a terminal attached on stdin and stdout. My use case is a modern gdb with Python API support #!/usr/bin/gdb --python import IPython; IPython.embed_kernel() this way I get to use ipython to explore the GDB API without the readline librarry in gdb and ipython fighting over the terminal settings. A Google search revealed that other people were interetsted in this use case as well: http://mail.scipy.org/pipermail/ipython-dev/2011-July/007928.html