Allow omitting _pyrepl module

Currently, launching Python without the _pyrepl module present causes it to abort. It would be better if it simply went into regular repl mode, rather than requiring the user to set an env var, as this would allow distributors to simply omit the module rather than having to patch and rebuild CPython.

cpython/Modules/main.c

Lines 281 to 286 in 175ab31

    
           PyObject *pyrepl = PyImport_ImportModule("_pyrepl.main"); 
        
           if (pyrepl == NULL) { 
        
               fprintf(stderr, "Could not import _pyrepl.main\n"); 
        
               res = pymain_exit_err_print(); 
        
               goto done; 
        
           }

I would prefer messages about ModuleNotFoundError here to only be shown in verbose mode, though other errors could still cause a full failure (if that's what the maintainers think is best... I disagree, but it's not important to me like ModuleNotFoundError would be).

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gh-145035: Allows removing the _pyrepl module to completely disable the modern REPL #145159

Given how pydoc was refactored, and that I don't want to un-refactor it, it appears that omitting _pyrepl will also break pydoc. I expect that to not be an issue for anyone who's interested in restricting REPL usage (e.g. in production code), so will just leave it documented. Turns out to not be an issue, though pydoc does regress to its most basic form without _pyrepl (which I still think is okay).

pythongh-145035: Allows removing the _pyrepl module to completely dis…

gh-145035: Allows removing the _pyrepl module to completely disable t…

Triage: Can this be closed now?

pythongh-145035: Allows removing the _pyrepl module to completely dis…

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Allow omitting `_pyrepl` module #145035

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	PyObject *pyrepl = PyImport_ImportModule("_pyrepl.main");
	if (pyrepl == NULL) {
	fprintf(stderr, "Could not import _pyrepl.main\n");
	res = pymain_exit_err_print();
	goto done;
	}

Allow omitting _pyrepl module #145035

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zooba commented on Feb 23, 2026

StanFromIreland commented on Mar 15, 2026

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Allow omitting `_pyrepl` module #145035