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.
In this tutorial, you’ll:
- Run Python 3.13 and explore the new REPL
- Browse through the help system
- Work with multiline statements
- Paste code