Configuration

You can edit the config file by pressing F3 (default). If a config file does not exist you will asked if you would like to create a file. By default it will be saved to $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/bpython/config [1].

General

This refers to the [general] section in your $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/bpython/config file.

arg_spec

Display the arg spec (list of arguments) for callables, when possible (default: True).

auto_display_list

Display the autocomplete list as you type (default: True). When this is off, you can hit tab to see the suggestions.

autocomplete_mode

There are four modes for autocomplete: none, simple, substring, and fuzzy. Simple matches methods with a common prefix, substring matches methods with a common subsequence, and fuzzy matches methods with common characters (default: simple). None disables autocompletion.

Added in version 0.12.

brackets_completion

Whether opening character of the pairs (), [], "", and '' should be auto-closed (default: False).

Added in version 0.23.

color_scheme

See Themes for more information.

Color schemes should be put in $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/bpython/. For example, to use the theme $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/bpython/foo.theme set color_scheme = foo

Leave blank or set to “default” to use the default (builtin) theme.

complete_magic_methods

Whether magic methods should be auto completed (default: True).

dedent_after

Number of blank lines required before next line will be dedented (default: 1). If set to 0, automatic dedenting never occurs.

editor

Editor for externally editing the current line, session, or config file.

Added in version 0.13.

flush_output

Whether to flush all output to stdout on exit (default: True).

Only relevant to bpython-curses and bpython-urwid.

highlight_show_source

Whether the source code of an object should be syntax highlighted (default: True).

hist_duplicates

Whether to store duplicate entries in the history (default: True).

hist_file

History file (default: ~/.pythonhist).

hist_length

Number of lines to store in history (set to 0 to disable) (default: 100).

paste_time

The time between keypresses before pastemode is deactivated in bpython-curses (default: 0.02).

pastebin_confirm

Whether pasting to a pastebin needs to be confirmed before sending the data (default: True).

pastebin_expiry

Time duration after which a paste should expire. Valid values are 1day, 1week and 1month (default: 1week).

Added in version 0.14.

pastebin_helper

The name of a helper executable that should perform pastebin upload on bpython’s behalf. If set, this overrides pastebin_url. The helper is expected to return the full URL to the pastebin as the first word of its output. The data is supplied to the helper via STDIN.

An example helper program is pastebinit, available for most systems. The following helper program can be used to create gists:

#!/usr/bin/env python

import sys
import requests
import json

def do_gist_json(s):
    """ Use json to post to github. """
    gist_public = False
    gist_url = "https://api.github.com/gists"

    data = {
        "description": "Gist from bpython",
        "public": gist_public,
        "files": {
            "sample": {
                "content": s
            },
        },
    }

    headers = {
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
        "X-Github-Username": "YOUR_USERNAME",
        "Authorization": "token YOUR_TOKEN",
    }

    try:
        res = requests.post(gist_url, data=json.dumps(payload), headers=headers)
        res.raise_for_status()
        json_res = json.loads(res.read())
        return json_res["html_url"]
    except requests.exceptions.HTTPError as err:
        return err


if __name__ == "__main__":
  s = sys.stdin.read()
  print(do_gist_json(s))

Added in version 0.12.

pastebin_url

The pastebin url to post to (without a trailing slash). This pastebin has to be a pastebin which provides a similar interface to bpaste.net’s JSON interface (default: https://bpaste.net).

save_append_py

Whether to append .py to the filename while saving the input to a file.

Added in version 0.13.

single_undo_time

Time duration an undo must be predicted to take before prompting to undo multiple lines at once. Use -1 to never prompt, or 0 to always prompt. (default: 1.0)

Added in version 0.14.

syntax

Syntax highlighting as you type (default: True).

tab_length

Soft tab size (default 4, see PEP-8).

unicode_box

Whether to use Unicode characters to draw boxes (default: True).

Added in version 0.14.

import_completion_skiplist

A :-seperated list of patterns to skip when processing modules for import completion.

Added in version 0.21.

Keyboard

This section refers to the [keyboard] section in your $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/bpython/config.

You can set various keyboard shortcuts to be used by bpython. However, we have yet to map all keys to their respective control codes. If you configure a key combination which is not yet supported by bpython it will raise an exception telling you the key does not exist in bpython.keys.

Valid keys are:

  • Control + any alphanumeric character (C-a through C-z, also a few others).

  • Any function key ranging from F1 to F12.

backspace

Default: C-h

Delete character in front of the cursor.

Added in version 0.14.

beginning_of_line

Default: C-a

Move to the beginning of the line.

Added in version 0.14.

clear_line

Default: C-u

Clears to the beginning of the line.

clear_screen

Default: C-l

Clears the screen to the top.

clear_word

Default: C-w

Clear the word the cursor is currently on.

copy_clipboard

Default: F10

Copy the entire session to clipboard.

Added in version 0.14.

cut_to_buffer

Default: C-k

Cuts the current line to the buffer.

delete

Default: C-d

Delete character under the cursor.

down_one_line

Default: C-n

Move the cursor down, by one line.

edit_config

Default: F3

Edit bpython configuration in external editor.

Added in version 0.14.

edit_current_block

Default: C-x

Edit current block in external editor.

Added in version 0.14.

end_of_line

Default: C-e

Move to the of the line.

Added in version 0.14.

exit

Default: C-d

Exits bpython (use on empty line)

external_editor

Default: F7

Edit the entire session in an external editor.

Added in version 0.13.

help

Default: F1

Brings up sincerely cheerful description of bpython features and current key bindings.

Added in version 0.14.

last_output

Default: F9

Shows the last output in the systems $PAGER. Only works in bpython-curses.

left

Default: C-b

Move a character to the left.

Added in version 0.14.

pastebin

Default: F8

reimport

Default: F6

Reruns entire session, reloading all modules by clearing the sys.modules cache.

Added in version 0.14.

save

Default: C-s

Saves the current session to a file (prompts for filename)

show_source

Default: F2

Shows the source of the currently being completed (python) function.

toggle_file_watch

Default: F5

Toggles file watching behaviour; re-runs entire bpython session whenever an imported module is modified.

Added in version 0.14.

transpose_chars

Default: C-t

Transpose current character with the one left of it.

Added in version 0.14.

undo

Default: C-r

Rewinds the last action.

up_one_line

Default: C-p

Move the cursor up, by one line.

yank_from_buffer

Default: C-y

Pastes the current line from the buffer (the one you previously cut)

CLI

This refers to the [cli] section in your config file.

suggestion_width

Default: 0.8

The width of the suggestion window in percent of the terminal width.

Added in version 0.9.8.

trim_prompts

Default: False

Trims lines starting with ‘>>> ‘ when set to True.

curtsies

This refers to the [curtsies] section in your config file.

Added in version 0.13.

list_above

Default: False

When there is space above the current line, whether the suggestions list will be displayed there instead of below the current line.

right_arrow_completion

Default: True

Full line suggestion and completion (like fish shell and many web browsers).

Full line completions are displayed under the cursor in gray. When the cursor is at the end of a line, pressing right arrow or ctrl-f will complete the full line. This option also turns on substring history search, highlighting the matching section in previous result.

Sample config

# This is a standard Python config file.
# Valid values can be True, False, integer numbers, and strings.
# Lines starting with # are treated as comments.
#
# By default bpython will look for $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/bpython/config
# ($XDG_CONFIG_HOME defaults to ~/.config) or you can specify a file with the
# --config option on the command line.
#
# See http://docs.bpython-interpreter.org/configuration.html for all
# configurable options.

# General section tag
[general]

# Display the autocomplete list as you type (default: True).
# When this is off, you can hit tab to see the suggestions.
# auto_display_list = True

# Syntax highlighting as you type (default: True).
# syntax = True

# Display the arg spec (list of arguments) for callables,
# when possible (default: True).
# arg_spec = True

# History file (default: ~/.pythonhist):
# hist_file = ~/.pythonhist

# Number of lines to store in history (set to 0 to disable) (default: 100):
# hist_length = 100

# Soft tab size (default: 4, see pep-8):
# tab_length = 4

# Color schemes should be put in $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/bpython/ e.g. to use the theme
# $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/bpython/foo.theme set color_scheme = foo. Leave blank or set
# to "default" to use the default theme
# color_scheme = default

# External editor to use for editing the current line, block, or full history
# Examples: vi (vim)
#          code --wait (VS Code) - in VS Code use the command palette to:
#                Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH
#          atom -nw (Atom)
# Default is to try $EDITOR and $VISUAL, then vi - but if you uncomment
# the line below that will take precedence
# editor = vi

# Whether to append .py to the filename while saving session to a file.
# (default: False)
# save_append_py = False

# The name of a helper executable that should perform pastebin upload on
# bpython's behalf. If unset, bpython uploads pastes to bpaste.net. (default: )
#pastebin_helper = gist.py

# How long an undo must be expected to take before prompting for how
# many lines should be undone. Set to -1 to never prompt, or 0 to
# always prompt.
# single_undo_time = 1.0

# Enable autoreload feature by default (default: False).
# default_autoreload = False
# Enable autocompletion of brackets and quotes (default: False)
# brackets_completion = False

[keyboard]

# All key bindings are shown commented out with their default binding

# pastebin = F8
# last_output = F9
# reimport = F6
# help = F1
# toggle_file_watch = F5
# save = C-s
# undo = C-r
# redo = C-g
# up_one_line = C-p
# down_one_line = C-n
# cut_to_buffer = C-k
# search = C-o
# yank_from_buffer = C-y
# backspace = C-h
# clear_word = C-w
# clear_line = C-u
# clear_screen = C-l
# show_source = F2
# exit = C-d
# external_editor = F7
# edit_config = F3
# reverse_incremental_search = M-r
# incremental_search = M-s

[curtsies]

# Allow the the completion and docstring box above the current line
# (default: False)
# list_above = False

# Enables two fish (the shell) style features:
# Previous line key will search for the current line (like reverse incremental
# search) and right arrow will complete the current line with the first match
# from history. (default: True)
# right_arrow_completion = True