title: ipython --pylab vs ipython
body: <p>What does <code>ipython --pylab</code> exactly do? </p>
  
  <p>Is  <code>ipython --pylab</code> <strong>exactly</strong> equivalent to:</p>
  
  <pre><code> &gt; ipython
   &gt; from pylab import *
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>If not, what are the differences? </p>
  
  <p>Say I launch IPython <strong>without</strong> the <code>--pylab</code> arguments, how can I bring it to the same state as if I had started it <strong>with</strong> <code>--pylab</code>? </p>