.pdbrc.py

# http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Cookbook/Python/Recipe/498182
def complete(self, text, state):
    """return the next possible completion for text, using the current frame's
       local namespace

       This is called successively with state == 0, 1, 2, ... until it
       returns None.  The completion should begin with 'text'.
    """
    # keep a completer class, and make sure that it uses the current local scope 
    if not hasattr(self, 'completer'):
        self.completer = rlcompleter.Completer(self.curframe.f_locals)
    else:
        self.completer.namespace = self.curframe.f_locals
    return self.completer.complete(text, state)



# Command line history:
import readline
histfile = os.path.expanduser("~/.pdb-pyhist")
try:
    readline.read_history_file(histfile)
except IOError:
    pass
import atexit
atexit.register(readline.write_history_file, histfile)
del histfile
readline.set_history_length(1000)

# return to debugger after fatal exception (Python cookbook 14.5):
def info(type, value, tb):
    import sys

    if hasattr(sys, 'ps1') or not sys.stderr.isatty():
        sys.__excepthook__(type, value, tb)
    import traceback, pdb
    traceback.print_exception(type, value, tb)
    print
    pdb.pm()

sys.excepthook = info