# Irb and tab key in Mac OS X

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/irb-and-tab-key-in-mac-os-x/51171>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [December 27, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/irb-and-tab-key-in-mac-os-x/51171 "2005-12-27T16:56:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rich](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@rich](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rich)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/irb-and-tab-key-in-mac-os-x/51171/1 "2005-12-27T16:56:31Z")

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Not sure if this is a readline issue or an irb issue, so I’ll venture  
the question here. When I run irb (in Mac OS X v10.3, with Ruby  
v1.8.2) and press the tab key, I get a print-out of the current  
directory. Is it possible to re-map the tab key in irb to insert a  
tab (or some # of spaces) at the prompt?

Also, just curious, where does the name irb come from? I’m guessing  
“Interactive RuBy”, but given the language’s Japanese origin, I could  
be wrong.

Thanks a bunch.

-Rich

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**Author:** ![rich](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@rich](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rich)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/irb-and-tab-key-in-mac-os-x/51171/2 "2005-12-27T16:59:32Z")

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Nevermind on the first question, just found the solution in the list  
archives.

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**Author:** ![rich](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@rich](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rich)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/irb-and-tab-key-in-mac-os-x/51171/3 "2005-12-27T18:27:09Z")

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You are correct, sir!

~ ryan ~