python / python/cpython

Save `pdb` Line History Between Runs

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#141,295 8 comments 1 reaction 0 assignees View on GitHub

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stdlib type-feature
Dominant language
Python
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Description

Feature or enhancement

Proposal:

When using pdb, it is possible to use the arrow keys (up/down) to navigate through previous commands. However, commands between runs are not preserved (unlike in the REPL).

I would like commands to be preserved between runs. For me, the most common use case for this is setting a breakpoint in the same place. Currently, I do this with python -m pdb -c "break file.py:line" ....

I am not familiar with how the pdb is implemented, but I have used bdb in depth in the past. I assume that it is possible to do this in a similar way to the REPL history. There is a workaround available here: https://stackoverflow.com/a/35390866/.

Has this already been discussed elsewhere?

This is a minor feature, which does not need previous discussion elsewhere

Links to previous discussion of this feature:

No response

Contributor guide

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First steps

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  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 tracing how pdb handles command history and compare it with the REPL history behavior; the issue points to bdb and the python -m pdb -c entry point. Confirm the intended persistence scope, then verify that commands entered in one debugging run are available in a later run without breaking arrow-key navigation or existing -c commands.

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
45/100

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