diff --git a/pkg/cmdrunner/cmdrunner.go b/pkg/cmdrunner/cmdrunner.go
index bccb274b..f788e918 100644
--- a/pkg/cmdrunner/cmdrunner.go
+++ b/pkg/cmdrunner/cmdrunner.go
@@ -20,10 +20,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/mshell/pkg/base"
 	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/mshell/pkg/packet"
 	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/mshell/pkg/shexec"
+	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/sh2-server/pkg/comp"
 	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/sh2-server/pkg/remote"
 	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/sh2-server/pkg/scbase"
 	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/sh2-server/pkg/scpacket"
 	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/sh2-server/pkg/sstore"
+	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/sh2-server/pkg/utilfn"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -32,6 +34,11 @@ const (
 	HistoryTypeGlobal  = "global"
 )
 
+func init() {
+	comp.RegisterSimpleCompFn("meta", simpleCompMeta)
+	comp.RegisterSimpleCompFn("command+meta", simpleCompCommandMeta)
+}
+
 const DefaultUserId = "sawka"
 const MaxNameLen = 50
 const MaxRemoteAliasLen = 50
@@ -1043,50 +1050,6 @@ func updateHistoryContext(ctx context.Context, line *sstore.LineType, cmd *sstor
 	}
 }
 
-func getStrArr(v interface{}, field string) []string {
-	if v == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	m, ok := v.(map[string]interface{})
-	if !ok {
-		return nil
-	}
-	fieldVal := m[field]
-	if fieldVal == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	iarr, ok := fieldVal.([]interface{})
-	if !ok {
-		return nil
-	}
-	var sarr []string
-	for _, iv := range iarr {
-		if sv, ok := iv.(string); ok {
-			sarr = append(sarr, sv)
-		}
-	}
-	return sarr
-}
-
-func getBool(v interface{}, field string) bool {
-	if v == nil {
-		return false
-	}
-	m, ok := v.(map[string]interface{})
-	if !ok {
-		return false
-	}
-	fieldVal := m[field]
-	if fieldVal == nil {
-		return false
-	}
-	bval, ok := fieldVal.(bool)
-	if !ok {
-		return false
-	}
-	return bval
-}
-
 func makeInfoFromComps(compType string, comps []string, hasMore bool) sstore.UpdatePacket {
 	sort.Slice(comps, func(i int, j int) bool {
 		c1 := comps[i]
@@ -1156,6 +1119,23 @@ func longestPrefix(root string, comps []string) string {
 	return lcp
 }
 
+func simpleCompMeta(ctx context.Context, prefix string, compCtx comp.CompContext, args []interface{}) (*comp.CompReturn, error) {
+	compsCmd, _ := comp.DoSimpleComp(ctx, "command", prefix, compCtx, nil)
+	compsMeta, _ := simpleCompCommandMeta(ctx, prefix, compCtx, nil)
+	return comp.CombineCompReturn(compsCmd, compsMeta), nil
+}
+
+func simpleCompCommandMeta(ctx context.Context, prefix string, compCtx comp.CompContext, args []interface{}) (*comp.CompReturn, error) {
+	rtn := comp.CompReturn{}
+	validCommands := getValidCommands()
+	for _, cmd := range validCommands {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(cmd, prefix) {
+			rtn.Entries = append(rtn.Entries, comp.CompEntry{Word: cmd, IsMetaCmd: true})
+		}
+	}
+	return &rtn, nil
+}
+
 func doMetaCompGen(ctx context.Context, pk *scpacket.FeCommandPacketType, prefix string, forDisplay bool) ([]string, bool, error) {
 	ids, err := resolveUiIds(ctx, pk, 0) // best effort
 	var comps []string
@@ -1202,8 +1182,8 @@ func doCompGen(ctx context.Context, pk *scpacket.FeCommandPacketType, prefix str
 	if err = resp.Err(); err != nil {
 		return nil, false, err
 	}
-	comps := getStrArr(resp.Data, "comps")
-	hasMore := getBool(resp.Data, "hasmore")
+	comps := utilfn.GetStrArr(resp.Data, "comps")
+	hasMore := utilfn.GetBool(resp.Data, "hasmore")
 	return comps, hasMore, nil
 }
 
@@ -1743,7 +1723,7 @@ func displayStateUpdateDiff(buf *bytes.Buffer, oldState packet.ShellState, newSt
 				if newVal.IsExport() {
 					exportStr = "export "
 				}
-				buf.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("%s%s=%s\n", exportStr, key, ShellQuote(newVal.Value, false, 50)))
+				buf.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("%s%s=%s\n", exportStr, key, utilfn.ShellQuote(newVal.Value, false, 50)))
 			}
 		}
 		for key, _ := range oldEnvMap {
diff --git a/pkg/cmdrunner/shparse.go b/pkg/cmdrunner/shparse.go
index ccdb7f40..941c9e9d 100644
--- a/pkg/cmdrunner/shparse.go
+++ b/pkg/cmdrunner/shparse.go
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ import (
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 
-	"github.com/alessio/shellescape"
 	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/mshell/pkg/shexec"
 	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/sh2-server/pkg/scpacket"
+	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/sh2-server/pkg/utilfn"
 	"mvdan.cc/sh/v3/expand"
 	"mvdan.cc/sh/v3/syntax"
 )
@@ -116,31 +116,6 @@ func onlyRawArgs(metaCmd string, metaSubCmd string) bool {
 	return metaCmd == "run" || metaCmd == "comment"
 }
 
-// minimum maxlen=6
-func ShellQuote(val string, forceQuote bool, maxLen int) string {
-	if maxLen < 6 {
-		maxLen = 6
-	}
-	rtn := shellescape.Quote(val)
-	if strings.HasPrefix(rtn, "\"") || strings.HasPrefix(rtn, "'") {
-		if len(rtn) > maxLen {
-			return rtn[0:maxLen-4] + "..." + rtn[0:1]
-		}
-		return rtn
-	}
-	if forceQuote {
-		if len(rtn) > maxLen-2 {
-			return "\"" + rtn[0:maxLen-5] + "...\""
-		}
-		return "\"" + rtn + "\""
-	} else {
-		if len(rtn) > maxLen {
-			return rtn[0:maxLen-3] + "..."
-		}
-		return rtn
-	}
-}
-
 func setBracketArgs(argMap map[string]string, bracketStr string) error {
 	bracketStr = strings.TrimSpace(bracketStr)
 	if bracketStr == "" {
@@ -161,7 +136,7 @@ func setBracketArgs(argMap map[string]string, bracketStr string) error {
 			varVal = litStr[eqIdx+1:]
 		}
 		if !shexec.IsValidBashIdentifier(varName) {
-			wordErr = fmt.Errorf("invalid identifier %s in bracket args", ShellQuote(varName, true, 20))
+			wordErr = fmt.Errorf("invalid identifier %s in bracket args", utilfn.ShellQuote(varName, true, 20))
 			return false
 		}
 		if varVal == "" {
diff --git a/pkg/comp/comp.go b/pkg/comp/comp.go
index 5d555f64..cc6fffea 100644
--- a/pkg/comp/comp.go
+++ b/pkg/comp/comp.go
@@ -2,17 +2,23 @@
 package comp
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"sort"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"unicode"
 
 	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/mshell/pkg/packet"
 	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/mshell/pkg/shexec"
 	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/sh2-server/pkg/sstore"
+	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/sh2-server/pkg/utilfn"
 	"mvdan.cc/sh/v3/syntax"
 )
 
+const MaxCompQuoteLen = 5000
+
 const (
 	SimpleCompGenTypeFile           = "file"
 	SimpleCompGenTypeDir            = "dir"
@@ -24,19 +30,31 @@ const (
 	SimpleCompGenTypeVariable       = "variable"
 )
 
+const (
+	QuoteTypeLiteral = ""
+	QuoteTypeDQ      = "\""
+	QuoteTypeANSI    = "$'"
+	QuoteTypeSQ      = "'"
+)
+
 type CompContext struct {
 	RemotePtr  sstore.RemotePtrType
 	State      *packet.ShellState
 	ForDisplay bool
 }
 
-type SimpleCompGenFnType = func(ctx context.Context, point SimpleCompPoint, compCtx CompContext, args []interface{}) (*CompReturn, error)
-
 type SimpleCompPoint struct {
 	Word string
 	Pos  int
 }
 
+type fullCompPrefix struct {
+	RawStr        string
+	RawPos        int
+	CompPrefix    string
+	QuoteTypePref string
+}
+
 type ParsedWord struct {
 	Offset      int
 	Word        *syntax.Word
@@ -53,6 +71,75 @@ type CompPoint struct {
 	Suffix      string
 }
 
+// directories will have a trailing "/"
+type CompEntry struct {
+	Word      string
+	IsMetaCmd bool
+}
+
+type CompReturn struct {
+	Entries []CompEntry
+	HasMore bool
+}
+
+func compQuoteDQString(s string, close bool) string {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	buf.WriteByte('"')
+	for _, ch := range s {
+		if ch == '"' || ch == '\\' || ch == '$' || ch == '`' {
+			buf.WriteByte('\\')
+			buf.WriteRune(ch)
+			continue
+		}
+		buf.WriteRune(ch)
+	}
+	if close {
+		buf.WriteByte('"')
+	}
+	return buf.String()
+}
+
+func compQuoteString(s string, quoteType string, close bool) string {
+	if quoteType != QuoteTypeANSI {
+		for _, ch := range s {
+			if ch > unicode.MaxASCII || !unicode.IsPrint(ch) || ch == '!' {
+				quoteType = QuoteTypeANSI
+				break
+			}
+			if ch == '\'' {
+				if quoteType == QuoteTypeSQ || quoteType == QuoteTypeLiteral {
+					quoteType = QuoteTypeANSI
+					break
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if quoteType == QuoteTypeANSI {
+		rtn := strconv.QuoteToASCII(s)
+		rtn = "$'" + strings.ReplaceAll(rtn[1:len(rtn)-1], "'", "\\'")
+		if close {
+			rtn = rtn + "'"
+		}
+		return rtn
+	}
+	if quoteType == QuoteTypeLiteral {
+		rtn := utilfn.ShellQuote(s, false, MaxCompQuoteLen)
+		if len(rtn) > 0 && rtn[0] == '\'' && !close {
+			rtn = rtn[0 : len(rtn)-1]
+		}
+		return rtn
+	}
+	if quoteType == QuoteTypeSQ {
+		rtn := utilfn.ShellQuote(s, true, MaxCompQuoteLen)
+		if !close {
+			rtn = rtn[0 : len(rtn)-1]
+		}
+		return rtn
+	}
+	// QuoteTypeDQ
+	return compQuoteDQString(s, close)
+}
+
 func (p *CompPoint) wordAsStr(w ParsedWord) string {
 	if w.Word != nil {
 		return p.StmtStr[w.Word.Pos().Offset():w.Word.End().Offset()]
@@ -63,16 +150,29 @@ func (p *CompPoint) wordAsStr(w ParsedWord) string {
 func (p *CompPoint) simpleExpandWord(w ParsedWord) string {
 	ectx := shexec.SimpleExpandContext{}
 	if w.Word != nil {
-		return SimpleExpandWord(ectx, w.Word, p.StmtStr)
+		return shexec.SimpleExpandWord(ectx, w.Word, p.StmtStr)
 	}
-	return SimpleExpandPartialWord(ectx, p.PartialWord, false)
+	return shexec.SimpleExpandPartialWord(ectx, w.PartialWord, false)
 }
 
-func (p *CompPoint) compPrefix() string {
-	pword := p.Words[p.CompWord]
+func getQuoteTypePref(str string) string {
+	if strings.HasPrefix(str, QuoteTypeANSI) {
+		return QuoteTypeANSI
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(str, QuoteTypeDQ) {
+		return QuoteTypeDQ
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(str, QuoteTypeSQ) {
+		return QuoteTypeSQ
+	}
+	return QuoteTypeLiteral
+}
+
+func (p *CompPoint) getCompPrefix() string {
 	if p.CompWordPos == 0 {
 		return ""
 	}
+	pword := p.Words[p.CompWord]
 	wordStr := p.wordAsStr(pword)
 	if p.CompWordPos == len(wordStr) {
 		return p.simpleExpandWord(pword)
@@ -82,7 +182,21 @@ func (p *CompPoint) compPrefix() string {
 	//      and a partial on just the current part.  this is an uncommon case though
 	//      and has very little upside (even bash does not expand multipart words correctly)
 	partialWordStr := wordStr[:p.CompWordPos]
-	return SimpleExpandPartialWord(shexec.SimpleExpandContext{}, partialWordStr, false)
+	return shexec.SimpleExpandPartialWord(shexec.SimpleExpandContext{}, partialWordStr, false)
+}
+
+func (p *CompPoint) extendWord(newWord string, newWordComplete bool) (string, int) {
+	pword := p.Words[p.CompWord]
+	wordStr := p.wordAsStr(pword)
+	quotePref := getQuoteTypePref(wordStr)
+	needsClose := newWordComplete && (len(wordStr) == p.CompWordPos)
+	wordSuffix := wordStr[p.CompWordPos:]
+	newQuotedStr := compQuoteString(newWord, quotePref, needsClose)
+	if needsClose && wordSuffix == "" {
+		newQuotedStr = newQuotedStr + " "
+	}
+	newPos := len(newQuotedStr)
+	return newQuotedStr + wordSuffix, newPos
 }
 
 func (p *CompPoint) dump() {
@@ -107,17 +221,6 @@ func (p *CompPoint) dump() {
 	fmt.Printf("\n")
 }
 
-// directories will have a trailing "/"
-type CompEntry struct {
-	Word      string
-	IsMetaCmd bool
-}
-
-type CompReturn struct {
-	Entries []CompEntry
-	HasMore bool
-}
-
 var SimpleCompGenFns map[string]SimpleCompGenFnType
 
 func strWithCursor(str string, pos int) string {
@@ -229,7 +332,6 @@ func ParseCompPoint(fullCmdStr string, pos int) (*CompPoint, error) {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	rtnPoint.dump()
 	return &rtnPoint, nil
 }
 
@@ -253,3 +355,32 @@ func splitCompWord(p *CompPoint) {
 func DoCompGen(ctx context.Context, point CompPoint, rptr sstore.RemotePtrType, state *packet.ShellState) (*CompReturn, error) {
 	return nil, nil
 }
+
+func SortCompReturnEntries(c *CompReturn) {
+	sort.Slice(c.Entries, func(i int, j int) bool {
+		e1 := c.Entries[i]
+		e2 := c.Entries[j]
+		if e1.Word < e2.Word {
+			return true
+		}
+		if e1.Word == e2.Word && e1.IsMetaCmd && !e2.IsMetaCmd {
+			return true
+		}
+		return false
+	})
+}
+
+func CombineCompReturn(c1 *CompReturn, c2 *CompReturn) *CompReturn {
+	if c1 == nil {
+		return c2
+	}
+	if c2 == nil {
+		return c1
+	}
+	var rtn CompReturn
+	rtn.HasMore = c1.HasMore || c2.HasMore
+	rtn.Entries = append([]CompEntry{}, c1.Entries...)
+	rtn.Entries = append(rtn.Entries, c2.Entries...)
+	SortCompReturnEntries(&rtn)
+	return &rtn
+}
diff --git a/pkg/comp/simplecomp.go b/pkg/comp/simplecomp.go
index b34a2e7b..ddae3f46 100644
--- a/pkg/comp/simplecomp.go
+++ b/pkg/comp/simplecomp.go
@@ -3,12 +3,47 @@ package comp
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
 	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/mshell/pkg/packet"
 	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/sh2-server/pkg/remote"
+	"github.com/scripthaus-dev/sh2-server/pkg/utilfn"
 )
 
+var globalLock = &sync.Mutex{}
+var simpleCompMap = map[string]SimpleCompGenFnType{
+	"file":      simpleCompFile,
+	"directory": simpleCompDir,
+	"variable":  simpleCompVar,
+	"command":   simpleCompCommand,
+}
+
+type SimpleCompGenFnType = func(ctx context.Context, prefix string, compCtx CompContext, args []interface{}) (*CompReturn, error)
+
+func RegisterSimpleCompFn(compType string, fn SimpleCompGenFnType) {
+	globalLock.Lock()
+	defer globalLock.Unlock()
+	if _, ok := simpleCompMap[compType]; ok {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("simpleCompFn %q already registered", compType))
+	}
+	simpleCompMap[compType] = fn
+}
+
+func getSimpleCompFn(compType string) SimpleCompGenFnType {
+	globalLock.Lock()
+	defer globalLock.Unlock()
+	return simpleCompMap[compType]
+}
+
+func DoSimpleComp(ctx context.Context, compType string, prefix string, compCtx CompContext, args []interface{}) (*CompReturn, error) {
+	compFn := getSimpleCompFn(compType)
+	if compFn == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no simple comp fn for %q", compType)
+	}
+	return compFn(ctx, prefix, compCtx, args)
+}
+
 func compsToCompReturn(comps []string, hasMore bool) *CompReturn {
 	var rtn CompReturn
 	rtn.HasMore = hasMore
@@ -18,13 +53,13 @@ func compsToCompReturn(comps []string, hasMore bool) *CompReturn {
 	return &rtn
 }
 
-func doCompGen(ctx context.Context, compCtx CompContext, prefix string, compType string, forDisplay bool) (*CompReturn, error) {
+func doCompGen(ctx context.Context, prefix string, compType string, compCtx CompContext) (*CompReturn, error) {
 	if !packet.IsValidCompGenType(compType) {
-		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("/compgen invalid type '%s'", compType)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("/compgen invalid type '%s'", compType)
 	}
 	msh := remote.GetRemoteById(compCtx.RemotePtr.RemoteId)
 	if msh == nil {
-		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("invalid remote '%s', not found", compCtx.RemotePtr)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid remote '%s', not found", compCtx.RemotePtr)
 	}
 	cgPacket := packet.MakeCompGenPacket()
 	cgPacket.ReqId = uuid.New().String()
@@ -32,23 +67,29 @@ func doCompGen(ctx context.Context, compCtx CompContext, prefix string, compType
 	cgPacket.Prefix = prefix
 	cgPacket.Cwd = compCtx.State.Cwd
 	resp, err := msh.PacketRpc(ctx, cgPacket)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, false, err
-	}
-	if err = resp.Err(); err != nil {
-		return nil, false, err
-	}
-	comps := getStrArr(resp.Data, "comps")
-	hasMore := getBool(resp.Data, "hasmore")
-	return compsToCompReturn(conmps, hasMore), nil
-}
-
-func SimpleCompFile(ctx context.Context, point SimpleCompPoint, compCtx CompContext, args []interface{}) (*CompReturn, error) {
-	pword := point.Words[p.CompWord]
-	prefix := ""
-	crtn, err := doCompGen(ctx, prefix, "file")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return crtn, nil
+	if err = resp.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	comps := utilfn.GetStrArr(resp.Data, "comps")
+	hasMore := utilfn.GetBool(resp.Data, "hasmore")
+	return compsToCompReturn(comps, hasMore), nil
+}
+
+func simpleCompFile(ctx context.Context, prefix string, compCtx CompContext, args []interface{}) (*CompReturn, error) {
+	return doCompGen(ctx, prefix, "file", compCtx)
+}
+
+func simpleCompDir(ctx context.Context, prefix string, compCtx CompContext, args []interface{}) (*CompReturn, error) {
+	return doCompGen(ctx, prefix, "directory", compCtx)
+}
+
+func simpleCompVar(ctx context.Context, prefix string, compCtx CompContext, args []interface{}) (*CompReturn, error) {
+	return doCompGen(ctx, prefix, "variable", compCtx)
+}
+
+func simpleCompCommand(ctx context.Context, prefix string, compCtx CompContext, args []interface{}) (*CompReturn, error) {
+	return doCompGen(ctx, prefix, "command", compCtx)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/utilfn/utilfn.go b/pkg/utilfn/utilfn.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a7fc04de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/utilfn/utilfn.go
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+package utilfn
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/alessio/shellescape"
+)
+
+func GetStrArr(v interface{}, field string) []string {
+	if v == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	m, ok := v.(map[string]interface{})
+	if !ok {
+		return nil
+	}
+	fieldVal := m[field]
+	if fieldVal == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	iarr, ok := fieldVal.([]interface{})
+	if !ok {
+		return nil
+	}
+	var sarr []string
+	for _, iv := range iarr {
+		if sv, ok := iv.(string); ok {
+			sarr = append(sarr, sv)
+		}
+	}
+	return sarr
+}
+
+func GetBool(v interface{}, field string) bool {
+	if v == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	m, ok := v.(map[string]interface{})
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+	fieldVal := m[field]
+	if fieldVal == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	bval, ok := fieldVal.(bool)
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+	return bval
+}
+
+// minimum maxlen=6
+func ShellQuote(val string, forceQuote bool, maxLen int) string {
+	if maxLen < 6 {
+		maxLen = 6
+	}
+	rtn := shellescape.Quote(val)
+	if strings.HasPrefix(rtn, "\"") || strings.HasPrefix(rtn, "'") {
+		if len(rtn) > maxLen {
+			return rtn[0:maxLen-4] + "..." + rtn[0:1]
+		}
+		return rtn
+	}
+	if forceQuote {
+		if len(rtn) > maxLen-2 {
+			return "\"" + rtn[0:maxLen-5] + "...\""
+		}
+		return "\"" + rtn + "\""
+	} else {
+		if len(rtn) > maxLen {
+			return rtn[0:maxLen-3] + "..."
+		}
+		return rtn
+	}
+}