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Is there a generic text expansion tool in Linux? I have to type some same strings frequently and I want to use abbreviation to type faster.

For example, I type a lot "symbol testapp/testapp.debug" in gdb. I want to create a shortcut "symdbg", so that when I hit TAB, that string will be replaced with "symbol testapp/testapp.debug".

I hope the tool can be generic so I can do it anywhere like terminal/browser/editors.

Edit: I'm using Ubuntu with xmonad, fish shell in urxvt terminal. But tools for other environment are good to know!

strongwillow
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    What desktop environment are you using (if any)? This may be doable by the desktop environment, some form of plugin to it, or a separate application, but depending on whether you're on KDE, Gnome or something else, it may work differently. Also mention what terminal application you're using. Please [edit] your question rather than replying in comments. – Kusalananda Mar 09 '20 at 10:51
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    Have you tried setting aliases in ~/.profile file? These will be accessible in gdb. – Paulo Tomé Mar 09 '20 at 10:57
  • I'm posting this as a comment, because I don't have enough information to write a proper answer, and I don't know whether it will really do what you want.   AutoKey appears to be sort-of a Linux version of AutoHotkey.   See Wikipedia, lifehacker, and another review. – G-Man Says 'Reinstate Monica' Mar 09 '20 at 23:15

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An alternative approach is to create a ~/.gdbinit file, see https://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~learn/debugging/modules/gdb_init_file/

Roel Van de Paar
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You can define aliases and shell functions. Some editors allow to define abbreviations/shortcuts.

vonbrand
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  • Are you sure? Can you provide a reference? This, for example, seems to contradict your answer, and I couldn't find anything that supports it. – G-Man Says 'Reinstate Monica' Mar 09 '20 at 16:43
  • @G-ManSays'ReinstateMonica', emacs has a system of auto-expansions. Never used it in earnest, more hassle than what it was worth when I fooled around with it, many years back. – vonbrand Mar 09 '20 at 22:15
  • My point is that the question asks for a generic tool, that can be used in any program.  I interpret this to mean something like AutoHotkey, but that works for abbreviations (sequences on non-modified characters, rather than Shift/Ctrl/Alt keystroke sequences) and works in Linux.  I saw some references to gdb having some sort of alias capability, but your answer seems to be suggesting that shell aliases and shell functions will automagically work in gdb, and that would be news to me. – G-Man Says 'Reinstate Monica' Mar 09 '20 at 23:01