Make a ''.pythonrc'' file: # Python startup environment -- color prompt and tab completion # 2012-08-14 -- Tyler Bletsch import sys,os,re import itertools if sys.stdout.isatty(): try: import readline except ImportError: print "Module readline not available." else: import rlcompleter readline.parse_and_bind("tab: complete") # ANSI coloring with readline escape codes def c(s=''): return '\001\033[%sm\002' % s if os.environ.get('TERM') in ('xterm', 'vt100'): sys.ps1 = c('0;36;96;1') + '>>> ' + c('0;36') sys.ps2 = c('0;36;96;1') + '... ' + c('0;36') def displayhook(v): sys.stdout.write('\033[0;32;92m') sys.__displayhook__(v) sys.stdout.write('\033[m') sys.displayhook = displayhook del displayhook def excepthook(type, value, traceback): sys.stdout.write('\033[31;91m') sys.__excepthook__(type, value, traceback) sys.stdout.write('\033[m') sys.excepthook = excepthook del excepthook sys.stderr.write(c('36;1') + "Custom extensions enabled." + c() + "\n") del c Set environment variable to enable it: PYTHONSTARTUP=$HOME/.pythonrc That's all.