Fix zsh _arguments options (--whatever) completion after non-options (noDashes) input

Question

I would like to allow completion for --flags after other input in my gradle completion script, but _arguments seems to require that

specs that describe option flags must precede specs that describe non-option ("positional" or "normal") arguments of the analyzed line (from the zsh completion docs)

In other words: command foo --o[TAB] does nothing, but command --o[TAB] works fine. Is there any way to configure _arguments or do I need to use other control functions?

NOTE: Separate completion functions do not seem like an option in my case as the inputs are not in a fixed list (gradle tasks are arbitrary and multiple can be specified, gradle myfoo mybar --o[TAB] must work).

Answer 1

I was able to solve this with this commit at least to allow options after 1 task is specified.

The trick is to set the state within _arguments with :->statename, reset the context to the next word, and provide a wildcard matcher that matches non-command words and use _arguments again.

There's almost certainly a way to allow options specified after an arbitrary number of words and avoid some duplication, but this is a workable start.

Answer 2

So you want to be able to type something like vim foo -[TAB] and have a list auto expand to show flags and switches, where currently you have to type vim -[TAB] to get your flags and switches and then type foo, yes?

Hopefully I am understanding your question correctly.

My current zsh completion options might be able to help with this, as I can do what I described, which seems to be what you are asking for? It has been quite a while sense I set these up so I don't remember precisely what each one does. What I belive you want though is the setopt COMPLETE_IN_WORD , unset LIST_AMBIGUOUS, as well as the zstyle ':completion::approximate*:*' prefix-needed false options. If I am wrong someone please correct me.

I have included what I use in my zsh as my completion section. I have tested this as standalone and it works on my zsh as is.

#{{{ Completion Stuff
zmodload -i zsh/complist
zstyle ':completion:*' list-colors ${(s.:.)LS_COLORS}
bindkey -M viins '\C-i' complete-word
# Faster! (?)
zstyle ':completion::complete:*' use-cache 1
# case insensitive completion
zstyle ':completion:*' matcher-list 'm:{a-z}={A-Z}' \
  'r:|[._-]=* r:|=*' 'l:|=* r:|=*'
zstyle ':completion:*' verbose yes
zstyle ':completion:*:descriptions' format '%B%d%b'
zstyle ':completion:*:messages' format '%d'
zstyle ':completion:*:warnings' format 'No matches for: %d'
zstyle ':completion:*' group-name ''
# generate descriptions with magic.
zstyle ':completion:*' auto-description 'specify: %d'
# Don't prompt for a huge list, page it!
zstyle ':completion:*:default' list-prompt '%S%M matches%s'
# Don't prompt for a huge list, menu it!
zstyle ':completion:*:default' menu 'select=0'
# Have the newer files last so I see them first
zstyle ':completion:*' file-sort modification reverse
# color code completion
zstyle ':completion:*' list-colors "=(#b) #([0-9]#)*=36=31"
unsetopt LIST_AMBIGUOUS
setopt  COMPLETE_IN_WORD
# Separate man page sections.
zstyle ':completion:*:manuals' separate-sections true
#
zstyle ':completion:*' list-separator 'fREW'
# complete with a menu for xwindow ids
zstyle ':completion:*:windows' menu on=0
zstyle ':completion:*:expand:*' tag-order all-expansions
# more errors allowed for large words and fewer for small words
zstyle ':completion:*:approximate:*' max-errors 'reply=(  $((  ($#PREFIX+$#SUFFIX)/3  ))  )'
# Errors format
zstyle ':completion:*:corrections' format '%B%d (errors %e)%b'
# Don't complete stuff already on the line
zstyle ':completion::*:(rm|vi):*' ignore-line true
# Don't complete directory we are already in (../here)
zstyle ':completion:*' ignore-parents parent pwd
zstyle ':completion::approximate*:*' prefix-needed false