How to read history in ptpython console?

Question

I've been trying to figure out how to get save and read in the history of my Python commands in a ptpython console, but haven't been able to do so. All of my efforts have so far been variations of this answer. However, I still am not able to read in my history.

I would simply like to be able to press the ↑ and ↓ arrows to go through my Python commands from a previous console session (not the current console session that I'm in). Here's what I currently have in my $PYTHONSTARTUP file:

# Add auto-completion and a stored history file of commands to your Python
# interactive interpreter. Requires Python 2.0+, readline. Autocomplete is
# bound to the Esc key by default (you can change it - see readline docs).
#
# Store the file in ~/.pystartup, and set an environment variable to point
# to it:  "export PYTHONSTARTUP=/home/user/.pystartup" in bash.
#
# Note that PYTHONSTARTUP does *not* expand "~", so you have to put in the
# full path to your home directory.

import atexit
import os
import readline
import rlcompleter
import sys
try:
    from ptpython.repl import embed
except ImportError:
    print('ptpython is not available: falling back to standard prompt')
else:
    sys.exit(embed(globals(), locals()))

historyPath = os.path.expanduser("~/.ptpython/history")

def save_history(historyPath=historyPath):
   import readline
   readline.write_history_file(historyPath)

if os.path.exists(historyPath):
   readline.read_history_file(historyPath)

atexit.register(save_history)
readline.parse_and_bind('tab: complete')
del os, atexit, readline, rlcompleter, save_history, historyPath

And my $PYTHONSTARTUP variable is:

$ echo $PYTHONSTARTUP 
/Users/[redacted]/.pystartup

I'm on Python 3.7.3, macOS 10.14.6, and ptpython 2.0.4.

Thanks

Answer 1

If you check source code for embed then you see option history_filename=

embed(globals(), locals(), history_filename=historyPath)

---

import os

try:
    from ptpython.repl import embed
except ImportError:
    print('ptpython is not available: falling back to standard prompt')
else:
    history_path = os.path.expanduser("~/.ptpython/history")
    embed(globals(), locals(), history_filename=history_path)

---

BTW: If folder ~/.ptpython doesn't exists then you will have to create it before run code.

EDIT (2022):

import os

try:
    from ptpython.repl import embed
except ImportError:
    print('ptpython is not available: falling back to standard prompt')
else:
    history_dir  = os.path.expanduser("~/.ptpython")
    history_path = os.path.join(history_dir, "history")
    
    if not os.path.exists(history_path):
        os.makedirs(history_dir, exist_ok=True)  # create folder if not exist
        open(history_path, 'a').close()          # create empty file
        
    embed(globals(), locals(), history_filename=history_path)