Unix - Custom autocomplete functions

About

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Programmable completion is a powerful tool which allows you to type any string (say: "myprintprogram") and then if you hit [tab],[tab] (tab key twice) it will show you the options available (eg: "--printhtml --printtxt help").

Simle Completion Function in Bash

~/autocomplete_foo.sh:

#! /bin/csh
_foo()
{
  local cur=${COMP_WORDS[COMP_CWORD]}
  COMPREPLY=( $(compgen -W "alpha beta bar baz" -- $cur) )
}
complete -F _foo foo

Now test by typing:

$ ~/autocomplete_foo.sh
$ foo b[TAB][TAB]
  beta bar baz

Simle Completion Function in Zsh

Links

• Writing your own Bash Completion Function - great article