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I happen to be on Ubuntu 18.04, with GNU bash, version 4.4.20(1)-release (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu) The output of 

% compgen -A file --
test-data
foobar
--

outputs all files/dirs in the current directory as though no token to complete was passed. However, the call 

% compgen -A file -- --
--

correctly outputs either nothing or --* depending upon whether or not there is actually a file/files --* present.
(NOTE: Trying pass '--' using the '-W' parameter doesn't help.

The relevant gnu man page and ubuntu man page are identical -

compgen [option] [word]

Generate possible completion matches for word according to the options, which maybe any option accepted by the complete builtin with the exception of -p and -r, and write the matches to the standard output. When using the -F or -C options, the various shell variables set by the programmable completion facilities, while available, will not have useful values.

The matches will be generated in the same way as if the programmable completion code had generated them directly from a completion specification with the same flags. If word is specified, only those completions matching word will be displayed.

The return value is true unless an invalid option is supplied, or no matches were generated.

It appears as though the -- parameter works as an optional delimiter to show where the partial begins, but it is also interpreted as an 'illegal option` with regards to the return status.

It's easy enough to put in the extra -- to work as a delimiter so that -- is interpreted correctly, but can I rely on the -- to always be required across different bash versions and/or linux (or unix) systems?

Craig Hicks
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  • @KamilMaciorowski What is the definition of an 'option argument' in **"The first -- argument that is not an option-argument should be accepted as a delimiter indicating the end of options."** ? Depending on the meaning of 'option argument' is might expect `compgen -W -- -A file` or `compgen -X -- -A file` to work, but they don't. --- scrath that, `-W` and `-X` don't seem to be effective for `compgen` anyway. – Craig Hicks Jun 10 '20 at 23:55
  • [Definition](https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/basedefs/V1_chap03.html#tag_03_262). The `-W` option *requires* something just after; this is the option-argument for the option. The same for `-X`. – Kamil Maciorowski Jun 10 '20 at 23:59

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