def magic_jot(self, parameter_s=''):
    """Lightweight persistence for python variables.

    Example:
    
    ville@badger[~]|1> A = ['hello',10,'world']\\
    ville@badger[~]|2> %jot A\\
    ville@badger[~]|3> Exit
    
    (IPython session is closed and started again...)
    
    ville@badger:~$ ipython -p pysh\\
    ville@badger[~]|1> print A
    
    ['hello', 10, 'world']
    
    Usage:
    
    %jot          - Show list of all variables and their current values\\
    %jot -l       - Show list of all variables and their current values in detail\\
    %jot -l <var> - Show one variable and its current values in detail\\
    %jot <var>    - Store the *current* value of the variable to disk\\
    %jot -d <var> - Remove the variable and its value from storage\\
    %jot -z       - Remove all variables from storage (disabled)\\
    %jot -r <var> - Refresh/Load variable from jot (delete current vals)\\
    %jot foo >a.txt  - Store value of foo to new file a.txt\\
    %jot foo >>a.txt - Append value of foo to file a.txt\\   
    
    It should be noted that if you change the value of a variable, you
    need to %note it again if you want to persist the new value.
    
    Note also that the variables will need to be pickleable; most basic
    python types can be safely %stored.
    
    """
    
    opts,argsl = self.parse_options(parameter_s,'drzl',mode='string')
    args = argsl.split(None,1)
    ip = self.getapi()
    db = ip.db
    # delete
    if 'd' in opts:
        try:
            todel = args[0]
        except IndexError:
            error('You must provide the variable to forget')
        else:
            try:
                del db['jot/' + todel]
            except:
                error("Can't delete variable '%s'" % todel)
    # reset the whole database
    elif 'z' in opts:
        print("reseting the whole database has been disabled.")
        #for k in db.keys('autorestore/*'):
        #    del db[k]

    elif 'r' in opts:
        try:
            toret = args[0]
        except:
            print("restoring all the variables jotted down...")
            refresh_variables(ip)
        else:
            refresh_variables(ip, toret)

    elif 'l' in opts:
        try:
            tolist = args[0]
        except:
            print("List details for all the items.")
            detail_variables(ip)
        else:
            print("Details for", tolist, ":")
            detail_variables(ip, tolist)
    
    # run without arguments -> list noted variables & notes 
    elif not args:
        vars = self.db.keys('jot/*')
        vars.sort()            
        if vars:
            size = max(list(map(len,vars))) - 4 
        else:
            size = 0
            
        print('Variables and their in-db values:')
        fmt = '%-'+str(size)+'s [%s] -> %s'
        get = db.get
        for var in vars:
            justkey = os.path.basename(var)
            v = get(var,'<unavailable>')
            try: 
                print(fmt % (justkey,\
                    datetime.ctime(v.get('time','<unavailable>')),\
                    v.get('comment','<unavailable>')[:70].replace('\n',' '),))
            except AttributeError:
                print(fmt % (justkey, '<unavailable>', '<unavailable>', repr(v)[:50]))

    
    # default action - store the variable
    else:
        # %store foo >file.txt or >>file.txt
        if len(args) > 1 and args[1].startswith('>'):
            fnam = os.path.expanduser(args[1].lstrip('>').lstrip())
            if args[1].startswith('>>'):
                fil = open(fnam,'a')
            else:
                fil = open(fnam,'w')
            obj = ip.ev(args[0])
            print("Writing '%s' (%s) to file '%s'." % (args[0],
              obj.__class__.__name__, fnam))

            
            if not isinstance (obj,str):
                from pprint import pprint
                pprint(obj,fil)
            else:
                fil.write(obj)
                if not obj.endswith('\n'):
                    fil.write('\n')
            
            fil.close()
            return
        
        # %note foo
        try:
            obj = ip.user_ns[args[0]]
        except KeyError:
            # this should not be alias, for aliases, use %store
            print()
            print("Error: %s doesn't exist." % args[0])
            print() 
            print("Use %note -r <var> to retrieve variables. This should not be used " +\
                  "to store alias, for saving aliases, use %store") 
            return
        else:
            if isinstance(inspect.getmodule(obj), FakeModule):
                print(textwrap.dedent("""\
                Warning:%s is %s 
                Proper storage of interactively declared classes (or instances
                of those classes) is not possible! Only instances
                of classes in real modules on file system can be %%store'd.
                """ % (args[0], obj) )) 
                return
            #pickled = pickle.dumps(obj)
            #self.db[ 'jot/' + args[0] ] = obj
            jot_obj(self, obj, args[0])
dataset/ETHPy150Open ipython/ipython-py3k/IPython/quarantine/ipy_jot.py/magic_jot/original