.pythonrc

# Add auto-completion and a stored history file of commands to your Python
# interactive interpreter. Requires Python 2.0+, readline. Autocomplete is
# bound to the Esc key by default (you can change it - see readline docs).
#
# Store the file in ~/.pystartup, and set an environment variable to point
# to it:  "export PYTHONSTARTUP=/max/home/itamar/.pystartup" in bash.
#
# Note that PYTHONSTARTUP does *not* expand "~", so you have to put in the
# full path to your home directory.

try:
    import readline
except ImportError:
    print("Module readline not available.")

else:
    import atexit
    import os
    import rlcompleter

    historyPath = os.path.expanduser("~/.python_history")
    # bind TAB to completion -- interferes with indenting :-(
    # readline.parse_and_bind('tab: complete')

    def save_history(historyPath=historyPath):
        import readline
        readline.write_history_file(historyPath)

    if os.path.exists(historyPath):
        readline.read_history_file(historyPath)

    atexit.register(save_history)
    del os, atexit, readline, rlcompleter, save_history, historyPath