[3.13] gh-137113 docs: note readline no longer supported in REPL after 3.13 (GH-137142) (GH-143792)

miss-islington · Yuheng3107 · web-flow · commit 77607753759f · 2026-01-14T10:56:18.000+01:00
Add a note to the readline module documentation stating that Python 3.13 and later no longer supports readline in the default REPL, as per gh-118840. Includes workaround using PYTHON_BASIC_REPL. Update tutorial to remove the reference, and use a different key to test things out. (cherry picked from commit 971f387) Signed-off-by: Kuang Yu Heng <yuheng3107@gmail.com> Co-authored-by: Kuang Yu Heng <yuheng3107@gmail.com>
diff --git a/Doc/library/readline.rst b/Doc/library/readline.rst
@@ -372,3 +372,9 @@ support history save/restore. ::
        def save_history(self, histfile):
            readline.set_history_length(1000)
            readline.write_history_file(histfile)
+
+.. note::
+
+   The new :term:`REPL` introduced in version 3.13 doesn't support readline.
+   However, readline can still be used by setting the :envvar:`PYTHON_BASIC_REPL`
+   environment variable.
diff --git a/Doc/tutorial/interpreter.rst b/Doc/tutorial/interpreter.rst
@@ -34,13 +34,13 @@ status.  If that doesn't work, you can exit the interpreter by typing the
 following command: ``quit()``.
 
 The interpreter's line-editing features include interactive editing, history
-substitution and code completion on systems that support the `GNU Readline
-<https://tiswww.case.edu/php/chet/readline/rltop.html>`_ library.
+substitution and code completion on most systems.
 Perhaps the quickest check to see whether command line editing is supported is
-typing :kbd:`Control-P` to the first Python prompt you get.  If it beeps, you
-have command line editing; see Appendix :ref:`tut-interacting` for an
-introduction to the keys.  If nothing appears to happen, or if ``^P`` is
-echoed, command line editing isn't available; you'll only be able to use
+typing a word in on the Python prompt, then pressing Left arrow (or :kbd:`Control-b`).
+If the cursor moves, you have command line editing; see Appendix
+:ref:`tut-interacting` for an introduction to the keys.
+If nothing appears to happen, or if a sequence like ``^[[D`` or ``^B`` appears,
+command line editing isn't available; you'll only be able to use
 backspace to remove characters from the current line.
 
 The interpreter operates somewhat like the Unix shell: when called with standard
