Python 3.13 Preview: A Modern REPL
One of Python’s strong points is its interactive capabilities. By running python you start the interactive interpreter, or REPL, which allows you to perform quick calculations or explore and experiment with your code. In Python 3.13, the interactive interpreter has been completely redesigned with new modern features.
Python’s REPL has remained largely unchanged for decades. Instead, alternative interpreters like IPython, bpython, and ptpython have addressed some of the built-in REPL’s shortcomings, providing more convenient interactive workflows for developers. As you’re about to learn, Python 3.13 brings many significant improvements to the interactive interpreter.
The upgraded REPL is just one of the new features coming in Python 3.13. You can read about all the changes in the what’s new section of Python’s changelog. Additionally, you can dig deeper into the work done on free threading and a Just-In-Time compiler.
To try out the new REPL for yourself, you need to get your hands on a version of Python 3.13. Before the official release in October 2024, you can install a pre-release version. After October 2024, you should be able to install Python 3.13 through any of the regular channels.
