Tab Completion

Hash shell includes intelligent tab completion for commands, files, and directories.

Basic Usage

Command Completion

Press TAB after typing part of a command:

#> ec<TAB>
#> echo     # Completed!

#> gi<TAB>
#> git      # Completed from PATH

File/Directory Completion

#> cat test<TAB>
#> cat testfile.txt    # Completed!

#> cd Doc<TAB>
#> cd Documents/       # Directory with trailing /

Multiple Matches

First TAB - Complete common prefix:

#> cat test<TAB>
#> cat test            # Common prefix

Second TAB - Show all matches:

#> cat test<TAB><TAB>
testfile.txt  test.md  test_data.csv
#> cat test

What Gets Completed

First Word (Command)

Completes from:

• Built-in commands (cd, exit, alias, etc.)
• Aliases from .hashrc
• Executables in PATH

#> g<TAB><TAB>
ga    gc    gd    git    gl    gp    gs

Subsequent Words (Files/Directories)

Completes:

• Files and directories
• Paths with tilde expansion
• Relative and absolute paths

#> cat /<TAB>
bin/  boot/  dev/  etc/  home/  ...

#> cd ~/.c<TAB>
#> cd ~/.config/

Features

Directory Handling

Directories get trailing /:

#> cd Doc<TAB>
#> cd Documents/

Tilde Expansion

#> cat ~/.<TAB>
~/.bashrc  ~/.config/  ~/.hashrc  ...

Path Completion

#> ls ~/projects/hash/src/m<TAB>
#> ls ~/projects/hash/src/main.c

Case Sensitivity

Completion is case-sensitive:

#> cat Test<TAB>   # Won't match "test.txt"
#> cat test<TAB>   # Matches "test.txt"

Behavior

Single Match

• Completes full name
• Adds space after (ready for next arg)
• Directories get /

Multiple Matches

First TAB: Complete common prefix Second TAB: Show all matches in columns

No Matches

Bell/beep sound, line unchanged.

After Operators

Completion works after command chaining:

#> ls && ca<TAB>
#> ls && cat

#> cd /tmp ; pw<TAB>
#> cd /tmp ; pwd

Tips & Tricks

Quick Directory Navigation

#> cd /u/l/b<TAB>
#> cd /usr/local/bin/

Exploring Directories

#> ls /etc/<TAB><TAB>
# Shows all files in /etc/

Command Discovery

#> git<TAB><TAB>
git  git-shell  gitk  ...

Limitations

Current limitations (may be added later):

• No variable name completion (after $)
• No username completion (after ~)
• No command-specific completion (git subcommands)
• No programmable completion

Comparison with Bash