python / python/cpython

New REPL crash (and terminal display issues) after a breakpoint and by sending Ctrl + D input

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#129,614 2 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub

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topic-repl type-bug
Dominant language
Python
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Description

Bug report

Bug description:

In a really specific scenario, the terminal can go crazy and becomes unresponsive:

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d9986c12-aa66-4e3c-bc69-840af79eec95

Steps to reproduce:

  • Create an issue.py file, with a breakpoint set (echo 'breakpoint()' > issue.py).
  • Run issue.py in interactive mode: python -i issue.py
  • Press C to continue when hitting the breakpoint.
  • Start typing something, e.g. help(
  • Input Ctrl + D, as if you wanted to exit the terminal. Nothing happens (as it should).
  • Input Ctrl + C, as if you wanted to clear the line.

If no breakpoint was hit before, this works as expected:

>>> help(  # hit Ctrl + D then Ctrl + C
KeyboardInterrupt

Note trying to reproduce on Python 3.12, the following happens:

--Return--
> /home/victorien/ws/pydantic/issue.py(1)<module>()->None
-> breakpoint()
(Pdb) c
>>> help(  # hit Ctrl + D then Ctrl + C
Program interrupted. (Use 'cont' to resume).
--Return--
> /home/victorien/.local/share/uv/python/cpython-3.12.7-linux-x86_64-gnu/lib/python3.12/pdb.py(271)sigint_handler()->None
-> self.set_trace(frame)

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/victorien/.local/share/uv/python/cpython-3.12.7-linux-x86_64-gnu/lib/python3.12/pdb.py", line 271, in sigint_handler
    self.set_trace(frame)
  File "/home/victorien/.local/share/uv/python/cpython-3.12.7-linux-x86_64-gnu/lib/python3.12/bdb.py", line 94, in trace_dispatch
    return self.dispatch_return(frame, arg)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/home/victorien/.local/share/uv/python/cpython-3.12.7-linux-x86_64-gnu/lib/python3.12/bdb.py", line 153, in dispatch_return
    self.user_return(frame, arg)
  File "/home/victorien/.local/share/uv/python/cpython-3.12.7-linux-x86_64-gnu/lib/python3.12/pdb.py", line 362, in user_return
    self.interaction(frame, None)
  File "/home/victorien/.local/share/uv/python/cpython-3.12.7-linux-x86_64-gnu/lib/python3.12/pdb.py", line 428, in interaction
    self._cmdloop()
  File "/home/victorien/.local/share/uv/python/cpython-3.12.7-linux-x86_64-gnu/lib/python3.12/pdb.py", line 390, in _cmdloop
    self.cmdloop()
  File "/home/victorien/.local/share/uv/python/cpython-3.12.7-linux-x86_64-gnu/lib/python3.12/cmd.py", line 126, in cmdloop
    line = input(self.prompt)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
RuntimeError: can't re-enter readline
>>> 

CPython versions tested on:

3.13

Operating systems tested on:

Linux

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Reproduce the terminal sequence with Python 3.13, then start by reading the readline interaction through pdb.py, bdb.py, and cmd.py, including the reported RuntimeError about re-entering readline. Done means the breakpoint flow no longer leaves the REPL unresponsive or crashes after Ctrl+D followed by Ctrl+C, with regression coverage for the scenario.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
cli, devtools
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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