What is closest to SLIME for python? / What is the best way to use python from EMACS?

Question

I'm trying to write some python, and I'm used to the lazy way of doing something, REPL in EMACS and the ability to send arbitrary code snippets to REPL. I like this way of developing code, and the built-in IDLE for python seems to do it pretty well. However, I like EMACS as an editor.

What is the best SLIME-like thing for Python?

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Still:

It seems like the trick is to open the python file and then use the "Start Interpreter" from the Python menu, after which you will get an Inferior Python buffer. You can then use Cc Cc to load the entire buffer you edit into "REPL" and use plain copy and paste to add snippets to the REPL.

It works as much as possible. Is there a way to say "overestimate the big thing the cursor is in and display the answer", or "overestimate the cursor at the end and display the answer", for example MCx and Cxe in SLIME?

And it all works better if you use python-mode.el from Bozidar's answer

Answer 1

I think the new python.el is a much better idea. It is under active development, it can spawn a python shell and send function definitions, buffers, and files to it. It is also better than average re-login support. According to rumors, in Emacs 24 it may become the standard python mode in Emacs.

Answer 2

There is ipython.el which you can use for some advanced functions in vanilla python mode. Ropemacs provides several additional completion and refactoring options that can help you. This is stated here . However, I do not expect you to get anything close to SLIME.

Answer 3

python-mode is the default mode for editing Python in emacs. It includes commands to evaluate the buffer and start the instance of the inferior interpreter.