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# Configuration and Initialization
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Core configuration functions for setting up readline behavior, parsing initialization files, and configuring the readline environment. These functions control how readline interprets key bindings, editing modes, and other behavioral settings.
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## Capabilities
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### Parse and Execute Configuration Commands
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Executes individual readline configuration commands, allowing runtime configuration of readline behavior without requiring configuration files.
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```python { .api }
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def parse_and_bind(string):
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    """
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    Parse and execute single line of a readline init file.
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    Parameters:
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    - string (str): Configuration command to parse and execute
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    Returns:
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    None
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    Raises:
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    None - silently ignores invalid configuration strings
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    """
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```
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**Usage Example:**
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```python
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import readline
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# Enable tab completion
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readline.parse_and_bind('tab: complete')
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# Set vi editing mode
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readline.parse_and_bind('set editing-mode vi')
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# Configure key bindings
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readline.parse_and_bind('"\C-p": previous-history')
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readline.parse_and_bind('"\C-n": next-history')
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# Set completion settings
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readline.parse_and_bind('set completion-ignore-case on')
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readline.parse_and_bind('set show-all-if-ambiguous on')
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```
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### Read Initialization File
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Reads and parses a complete readline initialization file, processing all configuration commands contained within the file.
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```python { .api }
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def read_init_file(filename=None):
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    """
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    Parse a readline initialization file.
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    Parameters:
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    - filename (str, optional): Path to initialization file to read.
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                               If None, uses the default or last filename used.
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    Returns:
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    None
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    Raises:
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    IOError: If the file cannot be read or does not exist
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    """
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```
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**Usage Example:**
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```python
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import readline
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# Read default initialization file (~/.inputrc)
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readline.read_init_file()
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# Read custom initialization file
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readline.read_init_file('/path/to/custom.inputrc')
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# Read application-specific config
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readline.read_init_file('./myapp_readline.conf')
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```
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**Common Configuration Options:**
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Readline configuration supports many options that can be set via `parse_and_bind()` or initialization files:
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- `set editing-mode vi` / `set editing-mode emacs` - Set editing mode
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- `set completion-ignore-case on/off` - Case-insensitive completion
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- `set show-all-if-ambiguous on/off` - Show all matches immediately
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- `set visible-stats on/off` - Display file type indicators
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- `set mark-symlinked-directories on/off` - Mark symlinked directories
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- Key bindings using format: `"key-sequence": function-name`