PyREPL example in VSCode showing various coloured examples

PyREPL in VSCode is Possible

The PyREPL

I use the REPL frequently and am enjoying the new PyREPL.
If you have not yet upgraded to Python 3.14, you should - PyREPL is another compelling reason to update.

The new PyREPL has been available since Python 3.13 and replaces the original C-based REPL with a Python-based implementation (PyREPL). You can read about the PyREPL in ‘PEP 762 – REPL-acing the default REPL’.

Key benefits of the new PyREPL include:

  • Coloured output for improved readability.
  • New built-in commands (exit, quit, copyright, help, clear).
  • Improved paste handling for multi-line code.
  • Block-level history and a persistent history file (.python_history).
  • Better Windows/PowerShell support.
  • Inline help and history convenience keys (F1/F2 mappings may vary by terminal).

Using the PyREPL in VSCode

I have experienced trouble with the terminal in VSCode previously (see this blog post), and by default, VSCode currently disables the PyREPL (VSCode-Python Issue #25240). This is the case in the September 2025 (version 1.105.1) release:

VSCode terminal showing the default (C-based) Python REPL

VSCode showing the default (C-based) Python REPL — no PyREPL features such as coloured output or easy exit.

This is not ideal.

This also appears to be the case for the VSCode Insiders version (I observed it in 1.106.0-insider).
I expect this to be temporary, and anticipate that the VSCode team is working to resolve it.

VSCode sets the PYTHON_BASIC_REPL environment variable, which forces the basic REPL and prevents PyREPL from loading.

You can change this default behaviour in your VSCode user settings (settings.json) by adding:

{
  // Disable Python extension shell integration so the system can load PyREPL
  "python.terminal.shellIntegration.enabled": false
}

You’ll need to restart the terminal for it to take effect:

PyREPL in VSCode showing coloured prompts and easy exit

PyREPL in VSCode: coloured output, and easy exit.

A thing of beauty!

If the old REPL still appears after changing the user settings, restart VSCode.

There have been reports of cursor indentation issues (see CPython Issue #126131) when using PyREPL in VSCode, but I have not noticed any major issues yet.

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

There are a number of keyboard bindings (keyboard shortcuts) available for the new PyREPL. These bindings are defined in the default CPython keymap in Lib/_pyrepl/reader.py and extended for history in Lib/_pyrepl/historical_reader.py.

The key ones I use are (pun absolutely intended):

Key Combination Action
Ctrl+c interrupt
Ctrl+g cancel
Ctrl+k kill-line
Ctrl+l clear-screen
Ctrl+n next-history
Ctrl+p previous-history
Ctrl+r reverse-history-isearch
F1 help
F2 show-history

Use Ctrl+n/Ctrl+p to skip scrolling through history code blocks.

I also use standard key combinations, such as the Home/End keys, Ctrl+<-/->, Ctrl+Shift+<-/->, and so on.

There are extended bindings that I do not use frequently enough to memorise:

Key Combination Action
Ctrl+a beginning-of-line
Ctrl+b left
Ctrl+d delete
Ctrl+e end-of-line
Ctrl+f right
Ctrl+h backspace
Ctrl+j accept (enter)
Ctrl+m accept
Ctrl+t transpose-characters
Ctrl+u unix-line-discard
Ctrl+w unix-word-rubout
Ctrl+y yank
Meta+b backward-word
Meta+c capitalize-word
Meta+d kill-word
Meta+f forward-word
Meta+l downcase-word
Meta+t transpose-words
Meta+u upcase-word
Meta+y yank-pop
Meta+- digit-arg
Meta+0..9 digit-arg
Ctrl+o operate-and-get-next
Ctrl+s forward-history-isearch
Meta+r restore-history
Page Down history-search-forward
Page Up history-search-backward
F3 paste-mode

On Windows and Linux, use Alt for Meta.
On Mac, use Option (⌥) for Meta (unless your terminal remaps it)."

References

Edits to this Post

  • 30 Oct 2025: Added banner image to post.
  • 05 Jan 2026: Added keyboard shortcuts section
  • 12 Jan 2026: MD linting and AI spelling, grammar checks