Racket: execute file and stay in interactive mode

Question

Is there a way from a command line to run Racket file and stay in the interactive mode afterwards?

E.g. same in Python it would be:

python -i <file.py>

Answer 1

Assuming a foo.rkt that's this:

#lang racket
(provide x)
(define x 42)
(define y 4242)

Then you can use -i to specify interactive mode (= REPL), together with -t to require the file:

$ racket -it foo.rkt
Welcome to Racket vX.X.X.
> x
42
> y
y: undefined; ...
> (exit)

Note that y is not bound since it's in the module and not provided out. More likely you want a REPL that is "inside" the foo module, which can be done using enter! to go into the module's namespace, either in the REPL:

$ racket
> (enter! "foo.rkt")
> x
42
> y
4242
> (exit)

or on the command-line, using -e (and also -i to request a REPL):

$ racket -i -e '(enter! "foo.rkt")'
Welcome to Racket vX.X.X.
> x
42
> (+ x 12)
54
> (exit)

xrepl

If you do this a lot, you'll probably like xrepl. In your ~/.racketrc simply add:

(require xrepl)

Now the example becomes:

$ racket
Welcome to Racket vX.X.X.
-> ,en foo.rkt
42
"foo.rkt"> x
42
"foo.rkt"> (+ x 12)
54
"foo.rkt"> ,ex

Aside from ,en, XREPL has a bunch of goodness -- like the prompt indication of the module you're currently in, as well as a bunch of other useful commands:

$ racket
Welcome to Racket vX.X.X.
-> ,h
; Available commands:
;   help (h ?): display available commands
;   exit (quit ex): exit racket
;   cd: change the current directory
;   pwd: display the current directory
;   shell (sh ls cp mv rm md rd git svn): run a shell command
;   edit (e): edit files in your $EDITOR
;   drracket (dr drr): edit files in DrRacket
;   apropos (ap): look for a binding
;   describe (desc id): describe a (bound) identifier
;   doc: browse the racket documentation
;   require (req r): require a module
;   require-reloadable (reqr rr): require a module, make it reloadable
;   enter (en): require a module and go into its namespace
;   toplevel (top): go back to the toplevel
;   load (ld): load a file
;   backtrace (bt): see a backtrace of the last exception
;   time: time an expression
;   trace (tr): trace a function
;   untrace (untr): untrace a function
;   errortrace (errt inst): errortrace instrumentation control
;   profile (prof): profiler control
;   execution-counts: execution counts
;   coverage (cover): coverage information via a sandbox
;   switch-namespace (switch): switch to a different repl namespace
;   syntax (stx st): set syntax object to inspect, and control it
;   check-requires (ckreq): check the `require's of a module
;   log: control log output
;   install!: install xrepl in your Racket init file

Emacs

However if you're an Emacs user you might prefer using something like:

• Geiser
• Quack minor mode for scheme-mode
• racket-mode (shameless self-promotion)

Answer 2

If you are using Visual Studio Code as an editor, you may want to use the "Code Runner extension"
make sure it's installed from the vs code marketplace
then enter Preferences: Open Settings (JSON) and past the following:

"code-runner.executorMap": {
        "racket": "(exit); racket -i -e '(enter! \"$fileName\")'",
    },

You will be able to run directly your file by clicking the Run Code icon or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+N

NB: the same manouvre goes for "scheme" since it's interpreted by racket as well, however putting #lang racket in the top of your file is necessary