Add History and Tab Completion to the Default Python Shell

gistfile1.txt

# ~/.bashrc
export PYTHONSTARTUP=$HOME/.pythonstartup.py

# ~/.pythonstartup.py
try:
    import readline
    import rlcompleter
    import atexit
    import os
except ImportError:
    print "Python shell enhancement modules not available."
else:
    histfile = os.path.join(os.environ["HOME"], ".pythonhistory")
    import rlcompleter
    readline.parse_and_bind("tab: complete")
    if os.path.isfile(histfile):
        readline.read_history_file(histfile)
    atexit.register(readline.write_history_file, histfile)
    del os, histfile, readline, rlcompleter, atexit
    print "Python shell history and tab completion are enabled."