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+.. SPDX-License-Identifier: CC-BY-SA-2.0-UK
+
+Using a Python Development Shell
+********************************
+
+Similar to working within a development shell as described in the
+previous section, you can also spawn and work within an interactive
+Python development shell. When debugging certain commands or even when
+just editing packages, ``pydevshell`` can be a useful tool. When you
+invoke the ``pydevshell`` task, all tasks up to and including
+:ref:`ref-tasks-patch` are run for the
+specified target. Then a new terminal is opened. Additionally, key
+Python objects and code are available in the same way they are to
+BitBake tasks, in particular, the data store 'd'. So, commands such as
+the following are useful when exploring the data store and running
+functions::
+
+   pydevshell> d.getVar("STAGING_DIR")
+   '/media/build1/poky/build/tmp/sysroots'
+   pydevshell> d.getVar("STAGING_DIR", False)
+   '${TMPDIR}/sysroots'
+   pydevshell> d.setVar("FOO", "bar")
+   pydevshell> d.getVar("FOO")
+   'bar'
+   pydevshell> d.delVar("FOO")
+   pydevshell> d.getVar("FOO")
+   pydevshell> bb.build.exec_func("do_unpack", d)
+   pydevshell>
+
+See the ":ref:`bitbake-user-manual/bitbake-user-manual-metadata:functions you can call from within python`"
+section in the BitBake User Manual for details about available functions.
+
+The commands execute just as if the OpenEmbedded build
+system were executing them. Consequently, working this way can be
+helpful when debugging a build or preparing software to be used with the
+OpenEmbedded build system.
+
+Here is an example that uses ``pydevshell`` on a target named
+``matchbox-desktop``::
+
+   $ bitbake matchbox-desktop -c pydevshell
+
+This command spawns a terminal and places you in an interactive Python
+interpreter within the OpenEmbedded build environment. The
+:term:`OE_TERMINAL` variable
+controls what type of shell is opened.
+
+When you are finished using ``pydevshell``, you can exit the shell
+either by using Ctrl+d or closing the terminal window.
+