Re: Add completion to compilation-read-command

[Philip Kaludercic <philipk@posteo.net>]

Spyros Roum <spyros.roum@posteo.net> writes:

> Philip Kaludercic wrote:
>> Spyros Roum<spyros.roum@posteo.net> writes:
>>
>>> Hello all,
>>>
>>> Recently, I started using `M-x compile` more but as I was used to my
>>> shell suggesting past commands as I type (and tools like atuin)
>> In case anyone else hasn't heard of this, it describes itself as
>>
>>    Atuin replaces your existing shell history with a SQLite database, and
>>    records additional context for your commands. Additionally, it
>>    provides optional and fully encrypted synchronisation of your history
>>    between machines, via an Atuin server.
>>
>> (https://github.com/atuinsh/atuin)
>
> Thanks for adding the description, I should have done that myself.

No worries.

>>>                                                                 , I was
>>> missing auto-complete a lot.
>>> I managed to add this functionality by writing a simple function based
>>> on compilation-read-command that uses completing-read instead of
>>> read-shell-command.
>> Do you know about the `bash-completion' package?  It enhances
>> `read-shell-command' completion with completion data provided by bash.
>> It is very easy to set up,
>>
>>    (use-package bash-completion :ensure t
>>      :init (bash-completion-setup))
>>
>> should do it.
>
> I was not aware of this, but it doesn't seem to do what I'm looking for.
> For once, I am not using bash, but even ignoring that it doesn't seem
> to have the effect I'm looking for.
>
> I'm trying to get the compile prompt to suggest completion based on
> past commands I've run.

My bad.  In that case, why not use C-r to search `compile-history'?

>
>>> Then I used advice-add to overwrite the
>>> original compilation-read-command with mine.
>>>
>>> So far this works well, and as far as I can tell there is no good
>>> reason not to make compile auto-completing, it already has a history
>>> that you can navigate anyway.
>>>
>>> With that said, this is the first time I write here and the first time
>>> I'm trying to contribute to emacs, so I'm not sure what the best way
>>> to go from here would be.
>>> I think some decisions would need to be taken, for once I am not sure
>>> if it's acceptable to change the default and make it completing or if
>>> there should be an option for it.
>> I am not sure if you meant to attach any code, but that would probably
>> be the best place to start.
>>
>>> Looking forward to your feedback, thanks
>
> You are right I should have posted code, so here is what I have:
>
>   (defun compilation-read-command-with-autocomplete (command)
>     "Use `completing-read` to add autocomplete powers to compilation read"
>     (completing-read "Compile command: " compile-history
>       nil nil command
>       (if (equal (car compile-history) command)
>         '(compile-history . 1)
>         'compile-history)))
>
>   (advice-add
>     #'compilation-read-command
>     :override #'compilation-read-command-with-autocomplete)

If this were added to Emacs, we probably wouldn't use advice.  I think
the best strategy for you would be to prepare a patch against compile.el
and add a user option that allows prompting the user with
completing-read.  What do you think?