How to repeat last command in python interpreter shell?
PythonShellVirtualenvInterpreterPython IdlePython Problem Overview
How do I repeat the last command? The usual keys: Up, Ctrl+Up, Alt-p don't work. They produce nonsensical characters.
(ve)[kakarukeys@localhost ve]$ python
Python 2.6.6 (r266:84292, Nov 15 2010, 21:48:32)
[GCC 4.4.4 20100630 (Red Hat 4.4.4-10)] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> print "hello world"
hello world
>>> ^[[A
File "<stdin>", line 1
^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax
>>> ^[[1;5A
File "<stdin>", line 1
[1;5A
^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax
>>> ^[p
File "<stdin>", line 1
p
^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax
>>>
Python Solutions
Solution 1 - Python
In IDLE, go to Options -> Configure IDLE -> Keys and there select history-next and then history-previous to change the keys.
Then click on Get New Keys for Selection and you are ready to choose whatever key combination you want.
Solution 2 - Python
I use the following to enable history on python shell.
This is my .pythonstartup file . PYTHONSTARTUP environment variable is set to this file path.
# python startup file
import readline
import rlcompleter
import atexit
import os
# tab completion
readline.parse_and_bind('tab: complete')
# history file
histfile = os.path.join(os.environ['HOME'], '.pythonhistory')
try:
readline.read_history_file(histfile)
except IOError:
pass
atexit.register(readline.write_history_file, histfile)
del os, histfile, readline, rlcompleter
You will need to have the modules readline, rlcompleter to enable this.
> Check out the info on this at : http://docs.python.org/using/cmdline.html#envvar-PYTHONSTARTUP.
Modules required:
Solution 3 - Python
Alt + p for previous command from histroy, Alt + n for next command from history.
This is default configure, and you can change these key shortcut at your preference from Options -> Configure IDLE.
Solution 4 - Python
You didn't specify which environment. Assuming you are using IDLE.
From IDLE documentation: Command history:
Alt-p retrieves previous command matching what you have typed.
Alt-n retrieves next.
(These are Control-p, Control-n on the Mac)
Return while cursor is on a previous command retrieves that command.
Expand word is also useful to reduce typing.
Solution 5 - Python
Ctrl+p is the normal alternative to the up arrow. Make sure you have gnu readline enabled in your Python build.
Solution 6 - Python
ALT + p works for me on Enthought Python in Windows.
Solution 7 - Python
On Ubuntu Server 12.04, I had this problem after installing a version of Python from source (Python3.4).
Some of the comments here recommend installing Ipython and I want to mention that I have the same behavior even with Ipython. From what I can tell, this is a readline problem.
For Ubuntu 12.04 server, I had to install libncurses-dev and libreadline-dev and then install Python from source for up-history (readline) behavior to be enabled. I pretty much did this:
sudo apt-get install libncurses-dev libreadline-dev
After that, I deleted the previously installed Python (NOT THE SYSTEM PYTHON, the one I had installed from source!) and reinstalled it from source and everything worked as expected.
I did not have to install anything with pip or edit .pythonstartup.
Solution 8 - Python
By default use ALT+p for previous command, you can change to Up-Arrow instead in IDLE GUi >> OPtions >> Configure IDLE >>Key >>Custom Key Binding It is not necesary to run a custom script, besides readlines module doesnt run in Windows. Hope That Help. :)
Solution 9 - Python
On CentOS, I fix this by
yum install readline-devel
and then recompile python 3.4.
On OpenSUSE, I fix this by
pip3 install readline
Referring to this answer:https://stackoverflow.com/a/26356378/2817654. Perhaps "pip3 install readline" is a general solution. Haven't tried on my CentOS.
Solution 10 - Python
I find information that I copied below answer the question
> Adapt yourself to IDLE: Instead of hitting the up arrow to bring back a previous command, if you just put your cursor on the previous command you want to repeat and then press "enter", that command will be repeated at the current command prompt. Press enter again, and the command gets executed.
> Force IDLE to adapt itself to you: If you insist on making the arrow keys in the IDLE command prompt window work like those in every other command prompt, you can do this. Go to the "Options" menu, select "Configure IDLE", and then "Keys". Changing the key that is associated with the "previous command" and "next command" actions to be the up arrow, and down arrow, respectively.
Solution 11 - Python
In my mac os python3 you can use: control+p early command contrlo+n next command
Solution 12 - Python
alt+p
go into options tab
configure idle
Keys
look under history-previous for the command, you can change it to something you like better once here.
Solution 13 - Python
This can happen when you run python script.py vs just python to enter the interactive shell, among other reasons for readline being disabled.
Try:
import readline
Solution 14 - Python
I don't understand why there are so many long explanations about this. All you have to do is install the pyreadline package with:
pip install pyreadline
sudo port install py-readline (on Mac)
(Assuming you have already installed PIP.)
Solution 15 - Python
You don't need a custom script like pyfunc's answer for OSX (at least on mavericks). In Idle click on Idle -> Preferences -> Keys, locate "history-next" and "history-previous", and either leave them with their default keyboard shortcut or assign "up arrow" and "down arrow" per typical expected terminal behavior.
This is on Idle 2.7 on OSX Mavericks.
Solution 16 - Python
If you use Debian Jessie run this to fix your system installation 2.7.9
sudo apt-get install libncurses5-dev libncursesw5-dev
To fix my other 3.5.2 installation which I installed with pyenv :
pip install readline
Sources:
[1] https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/linux-install-ncurses-library-headers-on-debian-ubuntu-centos-fedora/
Solution 17 - Python
Using arrow keys to go to the start of the command and hitting enter copies it as the current command.
Then just hit enter to run it again.
Solution 18 - Python
Ipython isn't allways the way... I like it pretty much, but if you try run Django shell with ipython. Something like>>>
ipython manage.py shell
it does'n work correctly if you use virtualenv. Django needs some special includes which aren't there if you start ipython, because it starts default system python, but not that virtual.
Solution 19 - Python
Up Arrow works only in Python command line.
In IDLE (Python GUI) the defaults are: Alt-p : retrieves previous command matching what you have typed. Alt-n : retrieves next... In Python 2.7.9 for example, you can see/change the Action Keys selecting: Options -> Configure IDLE -> (Tab) Keys
Solution 20 - Python
For anaconda for python 3.5, I needed to install ncurses
conda install ncurses
After the ncurses install tab complete, history, and navigating via left and right arrows worked in the interactive shell.
Solution 21 - Python
On Mac with Python 2.x
➜ ~ brew install rlwrap
Start with rlwrap
➜ ~ rlwrap python
Solution 22 - Python
For repeating the last command in python, you can use <Alt + n> in windows
Solution 23 - Python
Up arrow works for me too. And i don't think you need to install the Readline module for python builtin commandline. U should try Ipython to check. Or maybe it's the problem of your keybord map.
Solution 24 - Python
If using MacOSX, press control p to cycle up and control n to cycle down. I am using IDLE Python 3.4.1 Shell.
Solution 25 - Python
it is control + p in Mac os in python 3.4 IDEL
Solution 26 - Python
On Ubuntu 16.04, I had the same problem after upgrading Python from the preloaded 3.5 to version 3.7 from source code. As @erewok suggested, I did
sudo apt-get install libncurses-dev libreadline-dev
followed by:
sudo make install
After that, the arrow-up key worked. Not sure which module is required to fix the problem or both, but without "make install", none would work. During initial make, there were some red-flag errors, but ignored and completed the build. This time, there didn't seem to have any errors.