How to load bash completion file in debian postinst script

Question

I have a small debian package that includes a bash completion file which is copied in the /etc/bash_completion.d folder.

After installation, the bash completion file is not "loaded". I have to type in the terminal:

source /etc/bash_completion.d/mycompletionfile

I would like to avoid this with the postinst script. How should I do that?

Thank you

Thanks for the reply. dh_bash-completion /etc/bash_completion.d/mycompletionfile in the postinst would be the good way? — SackOverflow
– SackOverflow, Commented Mar 7, 2018 at 9:33
The manpage says: "If a file named debian/package.bash-completion exists, then different actions are performed". Sounds to me that it should work automagically if the file has the correct name, maybe needs a dependency to bash-completion in the DEBIAN file and maybe the line dh $@ --with bash-completion in the rules file, but I'm not sure as I never used it, just saw that this debhelper exists. It might also just copy the file, and you are where you started. — Karsten Koop
– Karsten Koop, Commented Mar 7, 2018 at 11:12

Bastian Venthur · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-28 11:55:41Z

4

According to the Debian New Maintainers Guide, you have to

add the bash-completion package in Build-Depends
add dh $@ --with bash-completion to debian/rules
create a file debian/package.bash-completion (and read man dh_bash-completion)

answered Apr 28, 2019 at 11:55

Bastian Venthur

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Peter J. Mello Over a year ago

As of debhelper compat level 12, there's no need to change the debian/rules file at all. You only have to add two packages to Build-Depends (or Build-Depends-Indep): bash-completion and dh-sequence-bash-completion, which has the same effect as adding the --with flag to the dh invocation in debian/rules. That, and adding a package.bash-completion to the debian folder, will also fix the destination folder for your completion file; packages are supposed to place them in /usr/share/bash-completion/completions, the folder in /etc is for user completion files only.

xhienne · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-28 14:35:01Z

0

Bash completion files are loaded at shell startup. If you install a new completion file, it won't be automatically loaded in existing shells where you have no other choice than source it or source /etc/bash_completion. Your new completion should be available in new shells without any special operation, though.

answered Apr 28, 2019 at 14:35

xhienne

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