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=/home/gsf/.pystartup" in bash.
#
# Note that PYTHONSTARTUP does *not* expand "~", so you have to put in the
# full path to your home directory.

import atexit
import os
import readline
import rlcompleter
import sys

# change autocomplete to tab
if 'libedit' in readline.__doc__:
    readline.parse_and_bind("bind ^I rl_complete")
    readline.parse_and_bind("bind ^R em-inc-search-prev")
else:
    readline.parse_and_bind("tab: complete")

history_path = os.path.expanduser("~/.python_history")

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

if os.path.exists(history_path):
    try:
        readline.read_history_file(history_path)
    except IOError:
        pass

atexit.register(save_history)

# anything not deleted (sys and os) will remain in the interpreter session
del atexit, readline, rlcompleter, save_history, history_path