If you don't already have IPython you can install it by opening a console and typing

sudo easy_install ipython

Mac OS X does include a readline functionality, but not 'the real one' gnureadline, because of a license issue. It can be manually installed, which we will do next. If you've not done so already, open a console and type

sudo easy_install -f http://ipython.scipy.org/dist/ readline

Type in your password and the readline functionality will be installed. Big joy you would think, but it's very well possible that it still doesn't work. Try for yourself by typing the following in your console:

ipython

IPython will start. Let's see if we can auto-complete here. First type

import sys

Now we've done an import and we will try to have auto-complete hint what we can do with it. In the next line type

sys.

Press Tab directly after the dot. If IPython hints all types of functions preceded by sys. in a list, you're done with this tutorial. If your cursor just jumps, auto-complete doesn't work and you might want to execute the following steps.
IPython has a file which is used to start it. We need to edit this file to tell where the readline module is installed.
If you're still in IPython, close it by pressing CTRL+D and confirming (y). You are now back on the console again.
The file which we are about to edit (done with Vim here) is a read-only file, so we need to sudo once again. Type the following

sudo vim /usr/local/bin/ipython

Enter your password and Vim will open a config file with just a few lines like

#!/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.5/Resources/Python.app/Contents/MacOS/Python
# EASY-INSTALL-ENTRY-SCRIPT: 'ipython==0.9.1','console_scripts','ipython'
__requires__ = 'ipython==0.9.1'
import sys
from pkg_resources import load_entry_point
 
sys.exit(
   load_entry_point('ipython==0.9.1', 'console_scripts', 'ipython')()
)

First find the location of the egg directory of readline which you've just installed. It's probably something like /Library/Python/site-packages/readline-.egg
I've installed the i386 readline module version 2.5.1, so my location is /Library/Python/2.5/site-packages/readline-2.5.1-py2.5-macosx-10.5-i386.egg
We will need this location next.
Go back to your console where the file is still opened.
Leave the first two lines and the import sys line. The rest can be commented out.
Now insert the following three lines after import sys:

sys.path.insert(0, 'path to readline egg')
import IPython.Shell
IPython.Shell.start().mainloop()

In my case, the ipython file looks as follows:

#!/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.5/Resources/Python.app/Contents/MacOS/Python
# EASY-INSTALL-ENTRY-SCRIPT: 'ipython==0.9.1','console_scripts','ipython'
#__requires__ = 'ipython==0.9.1'
import sys
#from pkg_resources import load_entry_point
 
sys.path.insert(0, '/Library/Python/2.5/site-packages/readline-2.5.1-py2.5-macosx-10.5-i386.egg')
 
import IPython.Shell
IPython.Shell.start().mainloop()
 
#sys.exit(
#   load_entry_point('ipython==0.9.1', 'console_scripts', 'ipython')()
#)

Save and quit the file by typing

:wq

You're back at the command line again. Let's test the auto-complete. Again type

ipython

IPython will start. Let's see if we can auto-complete here. First type

import sys

Now we've done an import and we will try to have auto-complete hint what we can do with it. In the next line type

sys.

Press Tab directly after the dot. If all went well Python hints all types of functions preceded by sys. in a list.

Sites that helped me and / or might be useful for you:

• IPython on Mac OS X
• Incredible Vehicle
• Launchpad

After a quick search I found the right solution here. It only needed a little bit adjustment as I don't use PostgresPlus, but just plain PostgreSQL.

To install, type the following in your command line. (Note that I use PostgreSQL 8.3 here! For different versions, different folders can hold, like /8.2 instead of /8.3 for PostgreSQL 8.2 for example).

PATH=$PATH:/Library/PostgreSQL/8.3/bin/ sudo easy_install psycopg2

When running the advised tests:

python

import numpy
numpy.test('1','10')
import scipy
scipy.test('1','10')

I immediately had problems testing numpy. A little search led me to Macinscience. Here you can download the Scipy Superpack installer for Mac OS X Intel. Note that according to Macinscience it is also possible to download gFortran elsewhere (as I also did) and download the Scipy Superpack installer which doesn't install gFortran. For both packs hold that these basically are executable SH scripts which downloads the appropriate unofficial files. You can run the superpack script WITH gFortran installer (the other one only has a different name which you should call) through the terminal from your download directory by typing:

sh superpack_2009.03.28.sh

The downloading will start and you will be prompted for your password eventually. After finishing the installation, the Scipy Superpack will be installed. Please note that the Scipy Superpack is regularly updated. When writing this post, the 2009.03.28 was the most recent version. One can find the latest version on this page. Having that said, I again ran the tests:

python

import numpy
numpy.test('1','10')
import scipy
scipy.test('1','10')

I got another error with the numpy test. As also suggested in the first comment on the Macinscience post: a library called nose is required. Although the provider replied that it would be in the package in the future, it wasn't present (yet?) in my case. This nose library can additionally be downloaded by typing:

sudo easy_install nose

After this my tests passed (note that the scipy test can take some time!).

sudo /System/Library/StartupItems/CiscoVPN/CiscoVPN restart

(for OS X 10.5 and lower) or

sudo kextload /System/Library/Extensions/CiscoVPN.kext

(10.6) and give your password when it asks. This will stop and start the "VPN Subsystem", or in other words restart the CiscoVPN.kext extension. Cisco seems to have problems when network adapters disappear and reappear, something that happens commonly in Wireless or Dial-up scenerios. Sometimes putting a system to sleep, disconnecting an Ethernet cable or simply reconnecting your wireless will cause CiscoVPN to loose track of the network adapters on the system."The source can be found here.