Re: Bug in TAB (completion)?

[Chet Ramey]

principiante wrote:

> Hi, please try the following:
>
> - fire up an xterm and create an empty directory
>   # mkdir empty
>
> - go inside and try to complete a filename
>
>   # cd empty
>   # ls a<TAB>
>
>   Nothing happens. Ok.
>
> - now open another xterm and put a filename
>   called aaa in the directory empty
>
> - go back to the previous xterm: you should have the line
>   with the cursor after the "a"
>
>   # ls a
>
> - press again <TAB> to complete. I get
>
>   aaa
>   # ls a
>
>   instead of
>
>   # ls aaa
>
>
>
> Can you explain this?

Sure.  Readline only inserts completions (or a unique prefix) on
the first tab.  The second and subsequent tabs list possible completions
sharing a unique prefix.  If you execute another readline command
between successive tabs, you'll get the completion you want.