python / python/cpython

Use pyrepl+fanycompleter as the default readline for pdb

Open
#139,167 3 comments 1 reaction 0 assignees View on GitHub

Nobody has claimed this yet.

stdlib type-feature
Dominant language
Python
Stars
77.2k
Forks
35.9k
PR merge metrics
PR metrics pending

Description

Feature or enhancement

Proposal:

Once https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/130473 is merged, we can think of using it also for pdb.
This would enable colored completion from the pdb prompt, like this (for context, pdb++ has been doing this for years)

Image

This raises some minor questions such as whether the (pdb) prompt should be white or magenta.

Has this already been discussed elsewhere?

No response given

Links to previous discussion of this feature:

No response

Linked PRs
  • gh-141619

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

Start by reading the pyrepl and fanycompleter work referenced in PR 130473, then inspect how pdb selects its readline implementation and handles the (pdb) prompt. The change is done when pdb uses pyrepl+fanycompleter by default and provides colored completion; prompt color choices still need resolution. PR 141619 indicates that work is already underway.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
cli, devtools
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
25/100

Get new issues in your inbox

A short digest of beginner-friendly GitHub issues.