helm-M-x not as convenient as M-x

[zwz]

Originally, you can auto-complete the commands by TAB in M-x.
For example, if you hit M-x, and type "list-*-p", and then hit TAB,
it expands to "list-load-path-shadows", which is very handy.

However, since TAB binds by default to helm-select-action,
if I (global-set-key (kbd "M-x") 'helm-M-x),
I do not know how to do auto-completion (more like guessing) in M-x.

Is there any workaround or configuration I missed?

[lewang]

No. You're completely missing the point of helm -- what's currently in the minibuffer is not important.

Don't look at the minibuffer. Look at the the completion window and what's being highlighted; and when you're happy with that, press <enter>.

In your example type "list path". If you prefer the default mental model of looking at the minibuffer, then don't use helm.

[zwz]

You take me wrong, I do not prefer the default mental model.
The example I gave above is not quite proper.
In fact what I wonder is whether auto completion is supported in helm-M-x.
It does not matter which key to intrigue it.

[tuhdo]

helm-M-x is more useful. It's just that you should not use the old way in vanilla Emacs or Ido. Here is my old answer to issue:

You should not rely on common prefix as in other packages like Ido or vanilla Emacs. We should not press TAB to refresh a new candidate list; we get new list every time we modify the input. Instead, use the every part of your desired candidate. For example, in your example, if you want to get "package-install", just type "pac stal" and "package-install" will be the first candidate. If you want "list-packages", just type "pac ^l" and you get "list-packages" (notice I do not follow the order of "list-packages").

Use every thing in your candidate string, not just prefix.

https://github.com/emacs-helm/helm/issues/222#issuecomment-39830792

In short, don't press TAB; find unique pattern in your candidate(s) for completion. In your example, typing "lo sh" gives exactly the candidate you want.

[thierryvolpiatto]

Le Wang [email protected] writes:

No. You're completely missing the point of helm -- what's currently in the minibuffer is not important.

Don't look at the minibuffer. Look at the the completion window and what's being highlighted; and when you're happy with that, press .

In your example type "list path". You you prefer the default mental model of looking at the minibuffer, then don't use helm.

We really need a FAQ in the wiki to avoid repeating again and again the
same thing.

Thierry
Get my Gnupg key:
gpg --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --recv-keys 59F29997

[zwz]

I got the point. Thank you both.

[lewang]

I've added FAQ to the wiki: https://github.com/emacs-helm/helm/wiki#3-emacs-completion-vs-helm

@zwz Do you think this text would have been helpful to resolve this question?

[zwz]

@lewang Yes, it helps!
At my first try, I guessed and typed something to find a command.
The command was in fact listed and selected. But as I was quite new to the coloring (background and foreground), I just missed the selected command, and thought: OMG, I cannot do guessing anymore ...

Anyway, I like helm :)

[thierryvolpiatto]

Ok, closing this, for basic usage of helm please ask on the mailing list.

[kosta-prime]

Actually, the issue is not the usage model but rather a missed use-case that is important nevertheless - When trying to select something in helm that is similar to one of the options but isn't there; With regular tab completion, I could tab complete and then edit the result to my liking. With helm, 90% of the time one of the presented options is exactly what I need However, 10% of the time you need something that is not quite there (e.g. file name similar to an existing file name but with .1 at the end, a bump in the minor version of a git tag in magit, etc). All these valid use cases are not served by helm and that's a shame.

[etern]

<enter> is not enough, sometimes you need completion of directory paths #1630 , use C-j

[sprig]

C-j describes the command when in helm-M-x mode