Ignore module name in the shell

Question

I am using a single module a lot in the Erlang shell. Is there any shortcut that will enable me to omit the module: prefix when typing in commands?

Answer 1

I don't think so.

But you can still use tab completion in the shell to make it easy.

Tab completion for a module can be achieved either by loading it:

> l(foo).

Or by manually calling any function from that module for the first time.

Answer 2

You can not omit module name, but you can type less, using variables:

1> lists:seq(1,10).
[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]
2> L = lists, S = seq.
seq
3> L:S(1,10).
[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]

Answer 3

You can extend the shell commands by defining a user_default module:

-module(user_default).

-export([seq/2]).

seq(A,B) -> lists:seq(A,B).

Make sure the compiled module is in your code path.

Eshell V5.7.5  (abort with ^G)
1> seq(1,4).
[1,2,3,4]
2>