How do I add tab completion to the Python shell?
PythonShellInterpreterPython Problem Overview
When starting a django application using python manage.py shell, I get an InteractiveConsole shell - I can use tab completion, etc.
Python 2.5.1 (r251:54863, Apr 15 2008, 22:57:26)
[GCC 4.0.1 (Apple Inc. build 5465)] on darwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
(InteractiveConsole)
When just starting a python interpreter using python, it doesn't offer tab completion.
Can someone tell me what django is doing to give me an interactive console, or what I need to do to start an interactive console without a django app?
Python Solutions
Solution 1 - Python
I may have found a way to do it.
Create a file .pythonrc
# ~/.pythonrc
# enable syntax completion
try:
import readline
except ImportError:
print("Module readline not available.")
else:
import rlcompleter
readline.parse_and_bind("tab: complete")
then in your .bashrc file, add
export PYTHONSTARTUP=~/.pythonrc
That seems to work.
Solution 2 - Python
I think django does something like https://docs.python.org/library/rlcompleter.html
If you want to have a really good interactive interpreter have a look at IPython.
Solution 3 - Python
For the record, this is covered in the tutorial: http://docs.python.org/tutorial/interactive.html
Solution 4 - Python
I use ptpython - it is a wonderful tool autocomplete shell cmd.
Installing ptpython is very easy, use pip tool
pip install ptpython
and for django shell, you should import the django env, like this
import os
os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "testweb.settings")
Trust me, this is the best way for you!!!
Solution 5 - Python
Fix for Windows 10 shell:
pip install pyreadline3 # previously, pyreadline but that package was abandoned
pip install ipython
Solution 6 - Python
It looks like python3 has it out-of box!
Solution 7 - Python
In Python3 this feature is enabled by default. My system didn't have the module readline installed. I am on Manjaro. I didn't face this tab completion issue on other linux distributions (elementary, ubuntu, mint).
After pip installing the module, while importing, it was throwing the following error-
To solve this, I ran-
ln -s libncursesw.so libncursesw.so.5
This resolved the import error. And, it also brought the tab completion in the python repl without any creation/changes of .pythonrc and .bashrc.
Solution 8 - Python
Yes. It's built in to 3.6.
fernanr@gnuruwi ~ $ python3.6
Python 3.6.3 (default, Apr 10 2019, 14:37:36)
[GCC 4.8.5 20150623 (Red Hat 4.8.5-16)] on linux
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import os
>>> os.
Display all 318 possibilities? (y or n)
os.CLD_CONTINUED os.O_RDONLY os.ST_NOEXEC os.environ os.getpid( os.readlink( os.spawnvpe(
os.CLD_DUMPED os.O_RDWR os.ST_NOSUID os.environb os.getppid( os.readv( os.st
Solution 9 - Python
For older versions (2.x) above script works like charm :)
fernanr@crsatx4 ~ $ cat .bashrc | grep -i python
#Tab completion for python shell
export PYTHONSTARTUP=~/.pythonrc
fernanr@crsatx4 ~ $ . ~/.bashrc
fernanr@crsatx4 ~ $ echo $?
0
fernanr@crsatx4 ~ $ python2
Python 2.7.5 (default, Jun 11 2019, 14:33:56)
[GCC 4.8.5 20150623 (Red Hat 4.8.5-39)] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import os
>>> os.
Display all 249 possibilities? (y or n)
os.EX_CANTCREAT os.O_WRONLY