We read
print-completions-horizontally (Off)
If set to On, readline will display completions with matches
sorted horizontally in alphabetical order, rather than down the
screen.
Maybe the above variable is mainly talking about sorting order, in which
case it is unfortunately named... because what I want is upon me typing:
$ ls /var/cache/apt/archives/xdm_1%3a1.1.<TAB>
instead of the current:
xdm_1%3a1.1.8-6_i386.deb xdm_1%3a1.1.9-1_i386.deb xdm_1%3a1.1.9-2_i386.deb
I want to see:
xdm_1%3a1.1.8-6_i386.deb
xdm_1%3a1.1.9-1_i386.deb
xdm_1%3a1.1.9-2_i386.deb
Which you will have to admit is 10 times easier on the eyes and brain to
sort out. Yes, there are just three matches in this case.
We see
COLUMNS
Used by the select builtin command to determine the terminal
width when printing selection lists. Automatically set upon
receipt of a SIGWINCH.
says it only is used by select, not what we're interested in. And even if
it was, we don't want to affect other programs too with COLUMNS (which we
export COLUMNS=80 mostly.)
