How to use the command 'compopt' (with examples)

The compopt command is used to print or change the completion options for a command. Completion options control the behavior of tab-completion in a shell. With compopt, you can view the currently set completion options for a command or modify them as needed.

Use case 1: Print the options for the currently executing completion

Code:

compopt

Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to view the completion options that are currently applied when you use tab-completion on the command line. It allows you to check the behavior of tab-completion for the current command and make adjustments if necessary.

Explanation: Without providing any arguments, the compopt command will print the completion options for the currently executing completion. It will display a list of options and their current settings.

Example output:

-o filenames -F + -N -C -P -S -X

Use case 2: Print the completion options for a given command

Code:

compopt command

Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to know the completion options set for a specific command. By examining the completion options, you can better understand how tab-completion behaves for that particular command.

Explanation: When you provide a command as an argument to the compopt command, it will print the completion options set for that command. The displayed options will include settings like how file names are completed, whether argument files should be ignored, and more.

Example output:

-o filenames -F + -N -C -P -S -X

Conclusion:

The compopt command is a helpful tool for managing and understanding completion options in a shell environment. Whether you want to view the current options for the executing completion or inspect the options for a specific command, compopt provides the necessary functionality.