Linux: How to Install and Enable Bash Completion

This post will guide you how to install and enable bash auto completion on CentOS/RHEL Linux. How do I add auto completion in Ubuntu/Debian Linux.

Install and Enable Bash Completion

If you want to use bash auto completion feature in Linux, you need to install bash-completion package in your Linux system.

For CentOS/RHEL Linux, you need to use yum command to install it, type:

# yum install bash-completion

Outputs:

[root@osetc_x8664 ~]# yum install bash-completion
Loaded plugins: rhnplugin, ulninfo
This system is receiving updates from RHN.
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package bash-completion.noarch 1:2.1-6.el7 will be installed
--> Finished Dependency Resolution

Dependencies Resolved

==========================================================================================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
==========================================================================================================================================================
Installing:
bash-completion noarch 1:2.1-6.el7 RH7_x86_64_latest 85 k

Transaction Summary
==========================================================================================================================================================
Install 1 Package

Total download size: 85 k
Installed size: 259 k
Is this ok [y/d/N]: y
Downloading packages:
bash-completion-2.1-6.el7.noarch.rpm | 85 kB 00:00:00
Running transaction check
Running transaction test
Transaction test succeeded
Running transaction
Installing : 1:bash-completion-2.1-6.el7.noarch 1/1
Verifying : 1:bash-completion-2.1-6.el7.noarch 1/1

Installed:
bash-completion.noarch 1:2.1-6.el7

Complete!

For Ubuntu/Debian Linux, you need to use apt command to install bash-completion package, type:

$ sudo apt-get install bash-completion

Then you need to logout your current bash shell and login again. the bash auto completion feature should be enabled. you can try one command, such as: press “yum i” then press TAB key. you should see that the command will be completed automatically.

# yum i[TAB]

Outputs:

[root@osetc_x8664 ~]# yum in
info install
[root@osetc_x8664 ~]# yum install