
PYTHON — Configure Bpython Settings
Innovation is the outcome of a habit, not a random act. — Sukant Ratnakar
Bpython is an enhanced REPL for Python that offers a host of options for customization. In this tutorial, you will learn how to configure Bpython settings to tailor your Python coding experience to your preferences.
Accessing the Configuration File
When using Bpython, the default configuration settings are hard-coded in its source code. However, you can modify these settings by editing a text file. To access the configuration file, press F3 in Bpython. This creates the configuration file from scratch and opens it in a code editor.
Location of the Configuration File
The default location of the configuration file is a hidden subdirectory of the user’s home folder. On macOS and Linux, it can be accessed at the specified location. You can also specify an alternative configuration file when starting Bpython on the command line.
Changing Default Code Editor
To change the default code editor from vi to Visual Studio Code, you need to modify the editor option under the [general] section tag in the configuration file. Ensure to include the --wait flag to make VS Code wait for files to close before returning.
Modifying History Length
You can increase the number of lines stored in the history file by adjusting the hist_length option in the configuration file. Ensure to use valid Python literals and separate groups of digits with an underscore.
Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts
The configuration file includes a section tagged as [keyboard], which represents keyboard shortcuts bound to specific actions in Bpython. You can define custom key bindings using the provided syntax and uncomment/update default mappings of actions and their keyboard shortcuts.
Customizing Color Scheme
To customize the colors for syntax highlighting in Bpython, create a .theme file placed next to the configuration file. Then, set the color_scheme option in the configuration file to specify which theme file to use when Bpython starts.
Customizing Themes
You can edit your custom theme file to change the appearance of the Bpython REPL. The theme file includes color markers that determine the appearance of the text. Additionally, you can make the font bold by using uppercase letters to add variety and creativity to the appearance of the REPL.
By following these steps, you can configure Bpython settings to customize your Python coding environment to suit your preferences and enhance your coding experience. For more information on configurable options in Bpython, refer to the official documentation.
Now that Bpython is customized to your liking, you can start using it as a debugging tool, which will be covered in the next section of the course.
