Removed flag_based_complete and index_based_complete functions.

kmvanbrunt · kmvanbrunt · commit c21bdb115bb9 · 2026-02-18T00:37:42.000-05:00
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ shell, and the option for a persistent bottom bar that can display realtime stat
         1. `Cmd.formatted_completions` -> `Completions.completion_table`
         1. `Cmd.matches_delimited` -> `Completions.is_delimited`
         1. `Cmd.allow_appended_space/allow_closing_quote` -> `Completions.allow_finalization`
+    - Removed `flag_based_complete` and `index_based_complete` functions since their functionality
+      is already provided in arpgarse-based completion.
 - Enhancements
     - New `cmd2.Cmd` parameters
         - **auto_suggest**: (boolean) if `True`, provide fish shell style auto-suggestions. These
diff --git a/cmd2/cmd2.py b/cmd2/cmd2.py
@@ -1895,100 +1895,6 @@ def delimiter_complete(
 
         return Completions(items, allow_finalization=allow_finalization, is_delimited=True)
 
-    def flag_based_complete(
-        self,
-        text: str,
-        line: str,
-        begidx: int,
-        endidx: int,
-        flag_dict: dict[str, Iterable[Matchable] | CompleterBound],
-        *,
-        all_else: None | Iterable[Matchable] | CompleterBound = None,
-    ) -> Completions:
-        """Completes based on a particular flag preceding the token being completed.
-
-        :param text: the string prefix we are attempting to match (all matches must begin with it)
-        :param line: the current input line with leading whitespace removed
-        :param begidx: the beginning index of the prefix text
-        :param endidx: the ending index of the prefix text
-        :param flag_dict: dictionary whose structure is the following:
-                          `keys` - flags (ex: -c, --create) that result in completion for the next argument in the
-                          command line
-                          `values` - there are two types of values:
-                          1. iterable of Matchables to match against
-                          2. function that performs completion (ex: path_complete)
-        :param all_else: an optional parameter for completing any token that isn't preceded by a flag in flag_dict
-        :return: a Completions object
-        """
-        # Get all tokens through the one being completed
-        tokens, _ = self.tokens_for_completion(line, begidx, endidx)
-        if not tokens:  # pragma: no cover
-            return Completions()
-
-        match_against = all_else
-
-        # Must have at least 2 args for a flag to precede the token being completed
-        if len(tokens) > 1:
-            flag = tokens[-2]
-            if flag in flag_dict:
-                match_against = flag_dict[flag]
-
-        # Perform completion using an Iterable
-        if isinstance(match_against, Iterable):
-            return self.basic_complete(text, line, begidx, endidx, match_against)
-
-        # Perform completion using a function
-        if callable(match_against):
-            return match_against(text, line, begidx, endidx)
-
-        return Completions()
-
-    def index_based_complete(
-        self,
-        text: str,
-        line: str,
-        begidx: int,
-        endidx: int,
-        index_dict: Mapping[int, Iterable[Matchable] | CompleterBound],
-        *,
-        all_else: Iterable[Matchable] | CompleterBound | None = None,
-    ) -> Completions:
-        """Completes based on a fixed position in the input string.
-
-        :param text: the string prefix we are attempting to match (all matches must begin with it)
-        :param line: the current input line with leading whitespace removed
-        :param begidx: the beginning index of the prefix text
-        :param endidx: the ending index of the prefix text
-        :param index_dict: dictionary whose structure is the following:
-                           `keys` - 0-based token indexes into command line that determine which tokens perform tab
-                           completion
-                           `values` - there are two types of values:
-                           1. iterable of Matchables to match against
-                           2. function that performs completion (ex: path_complete)
-        :param all_else: an optional parameter for completing any token that isn't at an index in index_dict
-        :return: a Completions object
-        """
-        # Get all tokens through the one being completed
-        tokens, _ = self.tokens_for_completion(line, begidx, endidx)
-        if not tokens:  # pragma: no cover
-            return Completions()
-
-        # Get the index of the token being completed
-        index = len(tokens) - 1
-
-        # Check if token is at an index in the dictionary
-        match_against: Iterable[Matchable] | CompleterBound | None = index_dict.get(index, all_else)
-
-        # Perform completion using a Iterable
-        if isinstance(match_against, Iterable):
-            return self.basic_complete(text, line, begidx, endidx, match_against)
-
-        # Perform completion using a function
-        if callable(match_against):
-            return match_against(text, line, begidx, endidx)
-
-        return Completions()
-
     @staticmethod
     def _complete_users(text: str, add_trailing_sep_if_dir: bool) -> Completions:
         """Complete ~ and ~user strings.
diff --git a/docs/features/completion.md b/docs/features/completion.md
@@ -56,19 +56,6 @@ complete_bar = functools.partialmethod(cmd2.Cmd.path_complete, path_filter=os.pa
     >   [basic_completion](https://github.com/python-cmd2/cmd2/blob/main/examples/basic_completion.py)
     >   example for a demonstration of how to use this feature
 
-- [flag_based_complete][cmd2.Cmd.flag_based_complete] - helper method for tab completion based on a
-  particular flag preceding the token being completed
-
-- [index_based_complete][cmd2.Cmd.index_based_complete] - helper method for tab completion based on
-  a fixed position in the input string
-
-    > - See the
-    >   [basic_completion](https://github.com/python-cmd2/cmd2/blob/main/examples/basic_completion.py)
-    >   example for a demonstration of how to use these features
-    > - `flag_based_complete()` and `index_based_complete()` are basic methods and should only be
-    >   used if you are not familiar with argparse. The recommended approach for tab completing
-    >   positional tokens and flags is to use [argparse-based](#argparse-based) completion.
-
 ## Raising Exceptions During Completion
 
 There are times when an error occurs while tab completing and a message needs to be reported to the
diff --git a/examples/basic_completion.py b/examples/basic_completion.py
@@ -1,24 +1,18 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 """A simple example demonstrating how to enable tab completion by assigning a completer function to do_* commands.
+
 This also demonstrates capabilities of the following completer features included with cmd2:
 - CompletionError exceptions
 - delimiter_complete()
-- flag_based_complete() (see note below)
-- index_based_complete() (see note below).
 
-flag_based_complete() and index_based_complete() are basic methods and should only be used if you are not
-familiar with argparse. The recommended approach for tab completing positional tokens and flags is to use
-argparse-based completion. For an example integrating tab completion with argparse, see argparse_completion.py
+The recommended approach for tab completing is to use argparse-based completion.
+For an example integrating tab completion with argparse, see argparse_completion.py.
 """
 
 import functools
+from typing import NoReturn
 
 import cmd2
-from cmd2 import Completions
-
-# List of strings used with completion functions
-food_item_strs = ['Pizza', 'Ham', 'Ham Sandwich', 'Potato']
-sport_item_strs = ['Bat', 'Basket', 'Basketball', 'Football', 'Space Ball']
 
 # This data is used to demonstrate delimiter_complete
 file_strs = [
@@ -34,44 +28,6 @@ class BasicCompletion(cmd2.Cmd):
     def __init__(self) -> None:
         super().__init__(auto_suggest=False, include_py=True)
 
-    def do_flag_based(self, statement: cmd2.Statement) -> None:
-        """Tab completes arguments based on a preceding flag using flag_based_complete
-        -f, --food [completes food items]
-        -s, --sport [completes sports]
-        -p, --path [completes local file system paths].
-        """
-        self.poutput(f"Args: {statement.args}")
-
-    def complete_flag_based(self, text, line, begidx, endidx) -> Completions:
-        """Completion function for do_flag_based."""
-        flag_dict = {
-            # Tab complete food items after -f and --food flags in command line
-            '-f': food_item_strs,
-            '--food': food_item_strs,
-            # Tab complete sport items after -s and --sport flags in command line
-            '-s': sport_item_strs,
-            '--sport': sport_item_strs,
-            # Tab complete using path_complete function after -p and --path flags in command line
-            '-p': self.path_complete,
-            '--path': self.path_complete,
-        }
-
-        return self.flag_based_complete(text, line, begidx, endidx, flag_dict=flag_dict)
-
-    def do_index_based(self, statement: cmd2.Statement) -> None:
-        """Tab completes first 3 arguments using index_based_complete."""
-        self.poutput(f"Args: {statement.args}")
-
-    def complete_index_based(self, text, line, begidx, endidx) -> Completions:
-        """Completion function for do_index_based."""
-        index_dict = {
-            1: food_item_strs,  # Tab complete food items at index 1 in command line
-            2: sport_item_strs,  # Tab complete sport items at index 2 in command line
-            3: self.path_complete,  # Tab complete using path_complete function at index 3 in command line
-        }
-
-        return self.index_based_complete(text, line, begidx, endidx, index_dict=index_dict)
-
     def do_delimiter_complete(self, statement: cmd2.Statement) -> None:
         """Tab completes files from a list using delimiter_complete."""
         self.poutput(f"Args: {statement.args}")
@@ -83,7 +39,7 @@ def do_raise_error(self, statement: cmd2.Statement) -> None:
         """Demonstrates effect of raising CompletionError."""
         self.poutput(f"Args: {statement.args}")
 
-    def complete_raise_error(self, _text, _line, _begidx, _endidx) -> Completions:
+    def complete_raise_error(self, _text: str, _line: str, _begidx: int, _endidx: int) -> NoReturn:
         """CompletionErrors can be raised if an error occurs while tab completing.
 
         Example use cases
diff --git a/examples/modular_commands/commandset_basic.py b/examples/modular_commands/commandset_basic.py
@@ -11,10 +11,6 @@
 
 @with_default_category('Basic Completion')
 class BasicCompletionCommandSet(CommandSet):
-    # List of strings used with completion functions
-    food_item_strs = ('Pizza', 'Ham', 'Ham Sandwich', 'Potato')
-    sport_item_strs = ('Bat', 'Basket', 'Basketball', 'Football', 'Space Ball')
-
     # This data is used to demonstrate delimiter_complete
     file_strs = (
         '/home/user/file.db',
@@ -24,44 +20,6 @@ class BasicCompletionCommandSet(CommandSet):
         '/home/other user/tests.db',
     )
 
-    def do_flag_based(self, statement: Statement) -> None:
-        """Tab completes arguments based on a preceding flag using flag_based_complete
-        -f, --food [completes food items]
-        -s, --sport [completes sports]
-        -p, --path [completes local file system paths].
-        """
-        self._cmd.poutput(f"Args: {statement.args}")
-
-    def complete_flag_based(self, text: str, line: str, begidx: int, endidx: int) -> list[str]:
-        """Completion function for do_flag_based."""
-        flag_dict = {
-            # Tab complete food items after -f and --food flags in command line
-            '-f': self.food_item_strs,
-            '--food': self.food_item_strs,
-            # Tab complete sport items after -s and --sport flags in command line
-            '-s': self.sport_item_strs,
-            '--sport': self.sport_item_strs,
-            # Tab complete using path_complete function after -p and --path flags in command line
-            '-p': self._cmd.path_complete,
-            '--path': self._cmd.path_complete,
-        }
-
-        return self._cmd.flag_based_complete(text, line, begidx, endidx, flag_dict=flag_dict)
-
-    def do_index_based(self, statement: Statement) -> None:
-        """Tab completes first 3 arguments using index_based_complete."""
-        self._cmd.poutput(f"Args: {statement.args}")
-
-    def complete_index_based(self, text: str, line: str, begidx: int, endidx: int) -> list[str]:
-        """Completion function for do_index_based."""
-        index_dict = {
-            1: self.food_item_strs,  # Tab complete food items at index 1 in command line
-            2: self.sport_item_strs,  # Tab complete sport items at index 2 in command line
-            3: self._cmd.path_complete,  # Tab complete using path_complete function at index 3 in command line
-        }
-
-        return self._cmd.index_based_complete(text, line, begidx, endidx, index_dict=index_dict)
-
     def do_delimiter_complete(self, statement: Statement) -> None:
         """Tab completes files from a list using delimiter_complete."""
         self._cmd.poutput(f"Args: {statement.args}")
diff --git a/tests/test_completion.py b/tests/test_completion.py
@@ -137,22 +137,6 @@ def do_alternate(self, args) -> None:
     '/home/other user/tests',
 ]
 
-# Dictionary used with flag based completion functions
-flag_dict = {
-    # Tab complete food items after -f and --food flag in command line
-    '-f': food_item_strs,
-    '--food': food_item_strs,
-    # Tab complete sport items after -s and --sport flag in command line
-    '-s': sport_item_strs,
-    '--sport': sport_item_strs,
-}
-
-# Dictionary used with index based completion functions
-index_dict = {
-    1: food_item_strs,  # Tab complete food items at index 1 in command line
-    2: sport_item_strs,  # Tab complete sport items at index 2 in command line
-}
-
 
 class CompletionsExample(cmd2.Cmd):
     """Example cmd2 application used to exercise tab completion tests"""
@@ -720,107 +704,6 @@ def test_delimiter_completion_nomatch(cmd2_app) -> None:
     assert not completions
 
 
-def test_flag_based_completion(cmd2_app) -> None:
-    text = 'P'
-    line = f'list_food -f {text}'
-    endidx = len(line)
-    begidx = endidx - len(text)
-
-    expected = ['Pizza', 'Potato']
-    completions = cmd2_app.flag_based_complete(text, line, begidx, endidx, flag_dict)
-    assert completions.to_strings() == Completions.from_values(expected).to_strings()
-
-
-def test_flag_based_completion_nomatch(cmd2_app) -> None:
-    text = 'q'
-    line = f'list_food -f {text}'
-    endidx = len(line)
-    begidx = endidx - len(text)
-
-    completions = cmd2_app.flag_based_complete(text, line, begidx, endidx, flag_dict)
-    assert not completions
-
-
-def test_flag_based_default_completer(cmd2_app, request) -> None:
-    test_dir = os.path.dirname(request.module.__file__)
-
-    text = os.path.join(test_dir, 'c')
-    line = f'list_food {text}'
-
-    endidx = len(line)
-    begidx = endidx - len(text)
-
-    expected = [text + 'onftest.py']
-    completions = cmd2_app.flag_based_complete(text, line, begidx, endidx, flag_dict, all_else=cmd2_app.path_complete)
-    assert completions.to_strings() == Completions.from_values(expected).to_strings()
-
-
-def test_flag_based_callable_completer(cmd2_app, request) -> None:
-    test_dir = os.path.dirname(request.module.__file__)
-
-    text = os.path.join(test_dir, 'c')
-    line = f'list_food -o {text}'
-
-    endidx = len(line)
-    begidx = endidx - len(text)
-
-    flag_dict['-o'] = cmd2_app.path_complete
-
-    expected = [text + 'onftest.py']
-    completions = cmd2_app.flag_based_complete(text, line, begidx, endidx, flag_dict)
-    assert completions.to_strings() == Completions.from_values(expected).to_strings()
-
-
-def test_index_based_completion(cmd2_app) -> None:
-    text = ''
-    line = f'command Pizza {text}'
-    endidx = len(line)
-    begidx = endidx - len(text)
-
-    expected = sport_item_strs
-    completions = cmd2_app.index_based_complete(text, line, begidx, endidx, index_dict)
-    assert completions.to_strings() == Completions.from_values(expected).to_strings()
-
-
-def test_index_based_completion_nomatch(cmd2_app) -> None:
-    text = 'q'
-    line = f'command {text}'
-    endidx = len(line)
-    begidx = endidx - len(text)
-    completions = cmd2_app.index_based_complete(text, line, begidx, endidx, index_dict)
-    assert not completions
-
-
-def test_index_based_default_completer(cmd2_app, request) -> None:
-    test_dir = os.path.dirname(request.module.__file__)
-
-    text = os.path.join(test_dir, 'c')
-    line = f'command Pizza Bat Computer {text}'
-
-    endidx = len(line)
-    begidx = endidx - len(text)
-
-    expected = [text + 'onftest.py']
-    completions = cmd2_app.index_based_complete(text, line, begidx, endidx, index_dict, all_else=cmd2_app.path_complete)
-    assert completions.to_strings() == Completions.from_values(expected).to_strings()
-
-
-def test_index_based_callable_completer(cmd2_app, request) -> None:
-    test_dir = os.path.dirname(request.module.__file__)
-
-    text = os.path.join(test_dir, 'c')
-    line = f'command Pizza Bat {text}'
-
-    endidx = len(line)
-    begidx = endidx - len(text)
-
-    index_dict[3] = cmd2_app.path_complete
-
-    expected = [text + 'onftest.py']
-    completions = cmd2_app.index_based_complete(text, line, begidx, endidx, index_dict)
-    assert completions.to_strings() == Completions.from_values(expected).to_strings()
-
-
 def test_tokens_for_completion_quoted(cmd2_app) -> None:
     text = 'Pi'
     line = f'list_food "{text}"'
