@flowblok's implementation of https://twitter.com/auscompgeek/status/551883315486019584 - improved

pythonrc.py

# An implementation of the james_curran variable #drjcfacts
# https://twitter.com/auscompgeek/status/551883315486019584
#
# Originally by @flowblok
# Improved by @auscompgeek
#
# Original version by @flowblok is available in r1 of this gist:
# https://gist.github.com/auscompgeek/3eea0698c4be5e0b69f2/e56d405d67309c6b121e0a6beb1f97a523281300
#
# TODO: fix for custom excepthooks such as the one in IPython

james_curran = True

def trace(f, t, v, p=[james_curran]):
    try:
        import sys
        import traceback
    except Exception:
        return

    def r(c, m):
        g['james_curran'] = p[0]
        sys.stderr.write('Traceback (most recent call last):\n')
        traceback.print_stack(f, limit=3)
        sys.excepthook(c, c(m), None)

    g = globals()
    if 'james_curran' not in g:
        r(RuntimeError, 'james_curran cannot be deleted')
        return
    j = g['james_curran']
    if j:
        p[0] = j
    else:
        r(ValueError, 'james_curran must be truthy')

__import__('sys').setprofile(trace)

del trace