VisIt_ supports a run commands
or an rc file called the visitrc file which is typically
:ref:`located <file_locations_visitrc>` in ~/.visit. The visitrc file
is a Python source code file that contains Python scripting commands that VisIt_
executes whenever the CLI is started either from the shell or from within the
GUI through the :ref:`Command Window <Command_Line_Window>`.
The visitrc file is most often used to define Python functions associated
with VisIt_ :ref:`macros <command_macros>`. However, users can use the file to
run whatever Python code they wish during VisIt_ CLI startup. This could include
opening a frequently used database, defining a set of frequently used expressions,
etc. See the :ref:`Python command-line interface <PythonManual>` manual for more
information about the commands available in VisIt_'s Python interface.