Bug report

Bug description:

When using the version of Python (3.9.6) that comes with Apple at /usr/bin/python, or when installing the latest version of Python (3.12.3) via Homebrew, the readline functionality is based on libedit. There is a file ~/.python_history that stores the REPL history, and its content is similar to:

_HiStOrY_V2_
import\040os

When using the latest version of Python built from the main branch, which includes the new REPL, pressing the up arrow key will display:

❯ ./python.exe
Python 3.14.0a0 experimental free-threading build (heads/main:73f4a58d36, May 21 2024, 21:12:51) [Clang 15.0.0 (clang-1500.3.9.4)] on darwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import\040os

The '\04' is not converted to space character.

CPython versions tested on:

3.13

Operating systems tested on:

macOS Sonoma 14.2

Linked PRs

• gh-119310: Fix encoding when reading old history file #121779
• [3.13] gh-119310: Fix encoding when reading old history file (GH-121779) #123784