Pythons Console Module has made it impossible to type the tab key

Question

I started using it on one of my programs a while back. Ever since, whenever I type the tab key on a console (cmd.exe instance) with python running, I get a readline internal

Answer 1

pyreadline can be uninstalled by typing pip uninstall pyreadline in the command prompt. I was experiencing the same issue, but after uninstalling pyreadline, Tab key is working for me.

NOTE: To see the installed packages, type pip list in command prompt.

Answer 2

Seems to be a continuing issue for Windows machines as seen on Github. A workaround seems to be uninstalling the pyreadline package.

Answer 3

Tested solution for Windows 10 (17 January 2020)

• Copy last traceback file path C:\SP_CI_PROGRAMS\Languages\Python\3.6.1\Lib\rlcompleter.py
• Open it with any text editor
  • If has VsCode use cmd and copy this
  • code C:\SP_CI_PROGRAMS\Languages\Python\3.6.1\Lib\rlcompleter.py
• Look the line 80 which traceback tell us
• Change these line (starts 79) like bellow and It will works
• There will no error message and unnecessary tab more

...
if _readline_available:                  ## The old one is ##
    if hasattr(readline, 'redisplay'):   # if _readline_available:
        readline.insert_text('\t')       #     readline.insert_text('\t')
        readline.redisplay()             #     readline.redisplay()
    return ''                            # return ''
...

Do not forget to relaunch your python terminal

Answer 4

Stop using pyreadline. It's been abandoned. What you're seeing is a known issue, but unless someone takes over pyreadline development, it's unlikely to ever be fixed.