OPA Tab Completion: Faster, Smarter CLI Workflows

The shell prompt waits. You type opa and stop. Instead of recalling every flag, you hit tab. The correct command appears instantly. This is Open Policy Agent tab completion. It’s fast. It’s exact. It saves time every time you touch OPA.

OPA tab completion ties directly into your CLI workflow. No more switching to docs mid-task. No scrolling through long lists of options. Every command, subcommand, and flag is ready as soon as you press tab. Whether you use Bash, Zsh, or Fish, OPA can complete syntax in real time.

Installation is simple. In Bash, enable completion by sourcing the OPA script:

opa completion bash > /path/to/opa_bash_completion.sh
source /path/to/opa_bash_completion.sh

For Zsh:

opa completion zsh > /path/to/_opa
source /path/to/_opa

For Fish:

opa completion fish > ~/.config/fish/completions/opa.fish

Once installed, every OPA command becomes easier to use. opa eval, opa run, opa test—all populated instantly. Arguments and flags appear in context, guiding you through complex policy workflows without breaking focus.

Tab completion is more than a convenience. It’s a precision tool, helping prevent typos, unused flags, and wasted keystrokes. In security-sensitive environments, accuracy matters. In CI/CD pipelines, speed matters. And in daily policy management, both matter every single time.

Configure tab completion once and it becomes part of your muscle memory. The loop between idea and execution shortens. The CLI becomes an extension of thought, not a drag on momentum.

Don’t just read about it—use it. Try OPA tab completion live with hoop.dev and see it working end-to-end in minutes.