# Irb cursor navigation **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [February 2, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/irb-cursor-navigation/100387 "2006-02-02T17:31:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Matt\_Maycock](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Matt\_Maycock](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Matt_Maycock)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/irb-cursor-navigation/100387/1 "2006-02-02T17:31:10Z")
Whenever I use irb on my OS X 10.4 box, pressing left, right, up, or down results in ^[[D, ^[[A, etc instead of the intended effect. Is there a fix? Thank you, ~Matthew Maycock ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Maycock](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Matt\_Maycock](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Matt_Maycock)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/irb-cursor-navigation/100387/2 "2006-02-02T17:40:16Z")
Matt Maycock wrote: > Whenever I use irb on my OS X 10.4 box, pressing left, right, up, or down > results in ^[[D, ^[[A, etc instead of the intended effect. Is there a fix? Great, I have the same problem. Was just gonna ask myself. I have it on RedHat Linux 7.3. -Sascha E. ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Maycock](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Matt\_Maycock](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Matt_Maycock)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/irb-cursor-navigation/100387/3 "2006-02-02T18:01:22Z")
On 2/2/06, Sascha E. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Matt Maycock wrote: > > > Whenever I use irb on my OS X 10.4 box, pressing left, right, up, or > > down > > results in ^[[D, ^[[A, etc instead of the intended effect. Is there a > > fix? > > Great, I have the same problem. Was just gonna ask myself. I have it on > RedHat Linux 7.3. It’s most likely a lack of the readline library being installed. If you’re using the built in OSX ruby install it’s recommended that you build your own. Search this list for a LOT more information regarding ruby and readline. -Sascha E. ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Maycock](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Matt\_Maycock](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Matt_Maycock)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 6:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/irb-cursor-navigation/100387/4 "2006-02-02T18:07:27Z")
On OS X 10.4, you are running into Apple’s long standing readline problems. There is a step-by-step fix described here: [http://tech.rufy.com/entry/46](http://tech.rufy.com/entry/46) However, there are other problems with Apple’s ruby, so you may seriously consider compiling your own. /kel ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Maycock](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Matt\_Maycock](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Matt_Maycock)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/irb-cursor-navigation/100387/5 "2006-02-02T18:10:29Z")
On 2006-02-02 11:59:25 -0500, Tanner B. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) said: > > RedHat Linux 7.3. > > It’s most likely a lack of the readline library being installed. If you’re > using the built in OSX ruby install it’s recommended that you build your > own. Search this list for a LOT more information regarding ruby and > readline. > > -Sascha E. I don’t have this problem on my OS X 10.4 box. I compiled and installed my own copy of Ruby following these instructions \>\> > **[Dan Benjamin](https://danbenjamin.com)** > > Dan Benjamin's personal website. Make sure you read the part about /usr/local linked on that page. James