Re: partial-completion-mode

[Stefan Monnier]

>> BTW, while partial-completion-mode is not explicitly marked as
>> obsolete yet, I do consider it as obsolete.  If there's some
>> particular reason why you use it, I'd like to hear about it.

> The reason is that I've always used it, and I'm not aware of
> built-in replacements for its features. :)

> For example, it binds SPC in the minibuffer to a command which makes
> completion *go forward* instead of just completing the current word,
> which enables e.g. M-x f SPC lib RET to run find-library, M-x isp
> SPC c SPC d for ispell-change-dictionary, etc.  I never use TAB for
> completion in the minibuffer, SPC is much more convenient to type
> (I use ido for buffer/file completion).

I just fixed a bug in minibuffer.el.
Now if you (setq completion-styles '(partial-completion)), your
M-x f SPC lib RET works just fine.  M-x isp SPC c SPC d won't quite
work: you need an extra SPC before the `c'.  Funnily enough, this
example only works with partial-completion-mode thanks to a bug
introduced in Emacs-21 (which causes some internal test to use the
whole minibuffer, including the prompt, to decide whether completion is
done).

BTW, using `-' (that's what I use) instead of SPC should work as well if
not better, with less magic.  But it's a bit more difficult to
type, admittedly.

> I also use the partial completion itself (I often use M-x kg RET for
> kill-grep), but admittedly I think I could live without it.

How do you get M-x kg RET to complete to kill-grep?  Doesn't work
for me.


        Stefan