Why is the Python readline module not available on OS X

title: why is the python readline module not available on macos?
introduction:
the readline module in python is a valuable tool for creating interactive command-line interfaces by providing features like history navigation, line editing, and tab completion. however, you may encounter situations where the readline module is not available on macos (formerly known as os x). in this tutorial, we will explore why the readline module is missing on macos and discuss alternative solutions to achieve similar functionality.
the absence of the readline module on macos is primarily due to licensing issues related to the gnu readline library, which the python readline module relies on. the gnu readline library is released under the gnu general public license (gpl), which has certain restrictions that prevent its inclusion with macos distributions.
to avoid legal complications, apple decided not to bundle the gnu readline library with macos, resulting in the unavailability of the readline module when you install python using the system-provided python or homebrew.
while the readline module is not available by default on macos, you can achieve similar functionality using alternative methods and libraries. here are a few options:
the prompt_toolkit library is a versatile tool for building interactive command-line applications with features like history navigation, autocompletion, and customizable prompts. you can install it using pip:
here's a simple example using prompt_toolkit to create a basic interactive prompt:
if you want to enhance the interactive python shell with tab completion, you can use the built-in rlcompleter module. this doesn't provide a full interactive prompt but is useful for enhancing the default python repl:
consider using third-party python repls, such as ipython or bpython, which provide enhanced interactive experiences with features like syntax highlighting, history navigation, and tab completion.
you can install ipython using pip:
to use ipython, simply ru ...