---
name: "bpython"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "bpython"
version: "0.25-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/bpython"
---

# bpython(1)

a fancy {curtsies, curses, urwid} interface to the Python interactive interpreter

## NAME

bpython - a fancy {curtsies, curses, urwid} interface to the Python interactive interpreter

## SYNOPSIS

**bpython** \[*options*\] \[*file* \[*args*\]\]

**bpython-curses** \[*options*\] \[*file* \[*args*\]\]

**bpython-urwid** \[*options*\] \[*file* \[*args*\]\]

## DESCRIPTION

The idea is to provide the user with all the features in-line, much like modern IDEs, but in a simple, lightweight package that can be run in a terminal window.

- **In-line syntax highlighting.**

  Highlights commands as you type!

- **Readline-like autocomplete with suggestions displayed as you type.**

  Press tab to complete expressions when there's only one suggestion.

- **Expected parameter list.**

  This displays a list of parameters for any function you call. It uses the inspect module, then tries pydoc.

- **Rewind.**

  This is a bit misleading, but it code that has been entered is remembered, and when you Rewind, it pops the last line and re-evaluates the entire code. This is error-prone, and mostly useful for defining classes and functions.

- **Pastebin code/write to file.**

  This posts the current buffer to a pastebin (bpaste.net) or writes it to a file.

- **Flush curses screen to stdout.**

  Unlike other curses apps, bpython dumps the screen data to stdout when you quit, so you see what you've done in the buffer of your terminal.

## OPTIONS

The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are equivalent. If **bpython** sees an argument it does not know, execution falls back to the regular Python interpreter.

The following options are supported by all frontends:

- **--config=***\<config\>*

  Use \<config\> instead of default config file.

- **-h, --help**

  Show the help message and exit.

- **-i, --interactive**

  Drop to bpython shell after running file instead of exiting. The PYTHONSTARTUP file is not read.

- **-q, --quiet**

  Do not flush the output to stdout.

- **-V, --version**

  Print **bpython**'s version and exit.

- **-l** *\<level\>,* **--log-level=***\<level\>*

  Set logging level

- **-L** *\<file\>,* **--log-output=***\<file\>*

  Set log output file

In addition to the above options, **bpython** also supports the following options:

- **-p** *file,* **--paste=***file*

  Paste in the contents of a file at startup.

In addition to the common options, **bpython-urwid** also supports the following options if Twisted is available:

- **-r** *\<reactor\>,* **--reactor=***\<reactor\>*

  Use Twisted's \<reactor\> instead of urwid's event loop.

- **--help-reactors**

  Display a list of available Twisted reactors.

- **-p** *\<plugin\>,* **--plugin=***\<plugin\>*

  Execute a **twistd** plugin. Use **twistd** to get a list of available plugins. Use -- to pass options to the plugin.

- **-s** *\<port\>,* **--server=***\<port\>*

  Run an eval server on port \<port\>. This option forces the use of a Twisted reactor.

## KEYS

**bpython**'s keys are fully configurable. See *http://docs.bpython-interpreter.org/configuration.html#keyboard*

## FILES

**$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/bpython/config**

Your bpython config. See sample-config (in /usr/share/doc/bpython/examples on Debian) for various options you can use, or read **[bpython-config(5)](/bpython-config/5.md)**.

## KNOWN BUGS

See *http://github.com/bpython/bpython/issues/* for a list of known issues.

## SEE ALSO

**[bpython-config(5)](/bpython-config/5.md)**, **[python(1)](/python/1.md)**

## AUTHOR

**bpython** was written by Robert Anthony Farrell \<*robertanthonyfarrel@gmail.com*\> and his bunch of loyal followers.

This manual page was written by Jørgen Pedersen Tjernø \<*jorgen@devsoft.no*\>, for the Debian project (but may be used by others).

## COPYRIGHT

2008-2022 Bob Farrell, Andreas Stuehrk, Sebastian Ramacher, Thomas Ballinger, et al.