How to repeat last command in python interpreter shell?

Question

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
>>>

Ditto, up arrow works for me on Windows. What shell are you using, and what terminal program on what OS? — fmark, Nov 27 '10 at 03:12
I installed a separate python 2.6.6 installation on Fedora 13, run virtualenv, using the default python shell, on gnome-terminal — kakarukeys, Nov 27 '10 at 03:15
You should install ipython. It's a much better interpreter than the default. — Falmarri, Nov 27 '10 at 03:44
just a FYI, those "nonsensical" characters are "escape sequences" developed by DEC and others back in the days when mainframe computers were accessed by terminals over phone lines. ^[ is ESC (escape), ^[[ is escape-[ or CSI (control sequence initiator, IIRC) and CSI-A is the sequence for "up". and when you enable ncurses, using the answer below, those sequences are interpreted rather than displayed. — jcomeau_ictx, Oct 15 '13 at 04:32
I had this problem due to installing a version of Python from source (Python3.4). Some of the comments below recommend installing Ipython and I want to mention that I have the same behavior even with Ipython. For Ubuntu 12.04 server, I had to install `libncurses-dev` `libreadline-dev` and then `configure-make-install` Python and it worked after that. Added as an answer... — erewok, Sep 19 '14 at 21:36

score 170 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 16 '16 at 21:44

170

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.

edited Mar 16 '16 at 21:44

Community

1
1

answered Sep 25 '12 at 19:41

basak

1,749
2
10
7

4

For searchers, this works in Linux Mint 17 Cinnamon too. – user1063287 Nov 25 '14 at 22:49
4

works for windows 10, python 3.6.1 as well. Thanks a lot, this is clean and clear, esp. useful for new learners. – jyao Apr 22 '17 at 21:03
1

Most appropriate answer. Should have been chosen as the correct one. – Davidson Lima Sep 25 '17 at 13:59
there is no Options -> Configure IDLE for Python 2.7 :/ – DaniPaniz Nov 08 '17 at 14:46
I needed to go to settings/preferences (python 2.7, IDLE for mac) and there I found the history-next, thanks so much you are the best :) – DaniPaniz Nov 08 '17 at 14:47
does not work, the old shortcut persists even after resetting. – Eduard Jan 27 '18 at 12:24
To get to IDLE, run `idle3` in shell – Roman Jan 24 '19 at 19:54
This didn't work for me: `UnicodeEncodeError: 'ascii' codec can't encode character u'\uf700' in position 0: ordinal not in range(128)` `UnicodeEncodeError: 'ascii' codec can't encode character u'\uf701' in position 0: ordinal not in range(128)` – Zim Jul 01 '19 at 16:47
what's IDLE? How do do this in pycharm console? – Gulzar Apr 27 '20 at 21:24

pyfunc · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-27T03:41:18.433

65

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:

edited Nov 27 '10 at 03:41

answered Nov 27 '10 at 03:13

pyfunc

60,253
14
138
132

@user496852: Just set the env variable PYTHONSTARTUP to the filepath containing above code. Also check, if you have the required modules. – pyfunc Nov 27 '10 at 03:19
6

it is not necessary, just follow instruction of basak's answer and assign key bindings – Timofey Mar 06 '13 at 08:46
1

An overkill. Just do alt+p – user32882 Jul 20 '17 at 09:43
As a Windows user, I had to first install [pyreadline](https://pypi.org/project/pyreadline/), and change the `histfile` definition by using `histfile = pathlib.Path.home().joinpath('.pythonhistory')`. – Shlomo Gottlieb Apr 22 '21 at 10:20

score 50 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 23 '13 at 01:24

50

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.

answered Jul 23 '13 at 01:24

frank

529
4
3

2

it's called history-next / history-previous – DaniPaniz Nov 08 '17 at 14:49

Info5ek · Answer 4 · 2020-04-28T14:59:03.150

19

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.

edited Apr 28 '20 at 14:59

answered Jul 09 '13 at 15:51

Info5ek

1,089
3
14
24

For further information: http://docs.python.org/2/library/idle.html#python-shell-window – creativeby Jul 09 '13 at 19:56
1

This is the solution I am looking for in IDLE. Up arrow worked on python interpreter launched from bash shell. – John Doe Aug 16 '16 at 20:48

score 8 · Answer 5 · answered Oct 03 '12 at 03:28

8

ALT + p works for me on Enthought Python in Windows.

answered Oct 03 '12 at 03:28

Deniss

146
1
3

erewok · Answer 6 · 2014-10-10T04:00:34.260

7

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.

edited Oct 10 '14 at 04:00

answered Sep 19 '14 at 21:39

erewok

6,848
2
30
36

2

For anyone who encounters this problem, I am on 14.04 and was still able to use this solution to fix this problem going from `3.4.0` to `3.4.2`. – ctzdev Oct 09 '14 at 03:51
2

I needed to do `sudo pip install readline` after this to get it to work (python 2.7.11) – Rob Watts Feb 01 '16 at 23:04
1

This worked for me on 64-bit Ubuntu 16 as well. I have 32-bit Python 3.5.2, compiled and installed from sources, in addition to the already apt-installed 64-bit Pythons. Just did `sudo apt-get install libncurses-dev libncurses-dev:i386 libreadline-dev libreadline-dev:i386` and reinstalled the source-built Python. – Alex Che Jul 26 '19 at 08:35

score 7 · Answer 7 · answered Sep 04 '16 at 20:54

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. :)

score 7 · Answer 8 · answered Nov 27 '10 at 03:26

7

Ctrl+p is the normal alternative to the up arrow. Make sure you have gnu readline enabled in your Python build.

answered Nov 27 '10 at 03:26

nmichaels

45,418
12
95
127

1

this asks if I want to print – ashleedawg Aug 27 '18 at 08:55

score 4 · Answer 9 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:18

4

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.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:18

Community

1
1

answered Jan 24 '15 at 22:48

peter pan gz

311
3
5

koliyat9811 · Answer 10 · 2017-03-31T12:23:06.793

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.

source

score 3 · Answer 11 · answered Nov 21 '16 at 13:15

3

In my mac os python3 you can use: control+p early command contrlo+n next command

answered Nov 21 '16 at 13:15

gkgy

39
3

score 2 · Answer 12 · edited Nov 12 '12 at 01:39

2

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.

edited Nov 12 '12 at 01:39

wattostudios

8,446
13
40
54

answered Nov 12 '12 at 01:21

LakeEffect

21
2

score 2 · Answer 13 · edited Nov 27 '20 at 20:41

2

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.)

edited Nov 27 '20 at 20:41

Wolfgang Kuehn

9,509
2
25
37

answered Dec 21 '13 at 11:34

not2qubit

10,014
4
72
101

2

'pip install readline' worked for me. All my control sequences were coming out with bracket prefixes on Centos 7 after python 3.4 manual install – Ziggy Eunicien Nov 06 '14 at 18:01
"Could not find a version that satisfies the requirement py-readline (from versions: ) No matching distribution found for py-readline" I hate this world – DaniPaniz Nov 08 '17 at 14:45
Make sure you use `pip2` or `pip3`, depending on what version you have installed. – not2qubit Nov 08 '17 at 14:56
This breaks python for version 3.8. Do not install! – Wolfgang Kuehn Nov 27 '20 at 20:42
@WolfgangKuehn Have any bug issue been filed about this to their repo? (if not, please file it.) Sound pretty serious. – not2qubit Nov 29 '20 at 19:22
@not2qubit I have not. This issue was on a compiled Python 3.8.6 on a current Amazon Linux 2. I still don't know why readline is not working (lib missing, compile switch, etc.), haven't got the time. – Wolfgang Kuehn Dec 01 '20 at 09:18

score 2 · Answer 14 · answered Oct 01 '14 at 09:29

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.

aliopi · Answer 15 · 2018-01-11T17:24:58.347

2

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/

[2] https://github.com/yyuu/pyenv/issues/240

[3] https://stackoverflow.com/a/40229934/332788

edited Jan 11 '18 at 17:24

answered Nov 26 '16 at 20:14

aliopi

3,126
1
26
23

Installing libncurses5-dev and libncursesw5-dev was sufficient to fix my Python 3.5 installation, but Python 3.6 broke up after I installed readline module for it. Probably need to recompile. – Andriy Makukha Jan 10 '18 at 12:56
It helped me Ubuntu 18.04 python version 3.7.3 `pip install readline` – akpp2808 Jun 11 '19 at 10:23

score 2 · Answer 16 · answered Jul 24 '18 at 14:59

2

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.

answered Jul 24 '18 at 14:59

Raja Dorji

1,430
2
6
22

score 1 · Answer 17 · answered Apr 03 '13 at 18:53

1

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

answered Apr 03 '13 at 18:53

Anuj Gupta

8,690
3
26
32

score 1 · Answer 18 · answered May 11 '15 at 17:23

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

score 1 · Answer 19 · answered Aug 23 '16 at 07:47

1

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.

answered Aug 23 '16 at 07:47

Danny Sullivan

2,665
2
23
32

score 1 · Answer 20 · answered Jul 20 '17 at 00:58

1

On Mac with Python 2.x

➜ ~ brew install rlwrap

Start with rlwrap

➜ ~ rlwrap python

answered Jul 20 '17 at 00:58

northtree

6,212
9
45
66

score 1 · Answer 21 · edited May 06 '20 at 09:27

1

For repeating the last command in python, you can use <Alt + n> in windows

edited May 06 '20 at 09:27

Bhargav Rao

41,091
27
112
129

answered May 06 '20 at 07:36

user13480918

11
1

If *arrow-up* doesn't work, you need to fix your installation. Probably need `pyreadline`. – not2qubit Nov 29 '20 at 19:20

score 1 · Answer 22 · answered Jul 10 '11 at 12:36

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.

score 0 · Answer 23 · answered Aug 11 '14 at 04:23

0

If using MacOSX, press control p to cycle up and control n to cycle down. I am using IDLE Python 3.4.1 Shell.

answered Aug 11 '14 at 04:23

warship

2,505
6
30
58

score 0 · Answer 24 · answered Jul 30 '15 at 18:21

0

it is control + p in Mac os in python 3.4 IDEL

answered Jul 30 '15 at 18:21

ratzily

141
1
3
14

score 0 · Answer 25 · answered Nov 27 '10 at 03:14

0

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.

answered Nov 27 '10 at 03:14

wliao

1,354
10
18

score 0 · Answer 26 · answered Aug 25 '18 at 02:52

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.

How to repeat last command in python interpreter shell?

26 Answers26

Linked