2014-04-16 Python vi keybindings on OS X

If you're used to vi keybindings, and you use Python interactively, you're going to do a lot of cursing on OS X. This is because the readline library (responsible for keybindings and history) is GPL licensed and thus not distributed by Apple.

Here's a quick fix.

Add a file called .editrc with the following content:

 bind -v

Add a file called .pythonrc with the following lines:

 import rlcompleter
 import readline

Add a line to your .bashrc which makes Python run .pythonrc when it starts interactively:

 export PYTHONSTARTUP="$HOME/.pythonrc"

Start python from the commandline and voilà, enjoy history and vi keybindings and all that good stuff. Tested on 10.9.2 (Mountain Lion).