def expand_defaults(default, client=False, getenv=True, getshell=True):
    """Compile env, client_env, shell and client_shell commands

    Execution rules:
    - env() and shell() execute where the cat is loaded, if getenv and getshell
      are True, respectively
    - client_env() and client_shell() execute only if client is True and
      getenv/getshell are also True.

    If both getenv and getshell are False, this method does nothing.

    If the environment variable is missing or the shell command fails, the
    output is an empty string.
    """
    r = re.match(r'env\((.*)\)', default)
    if r and not client and getenv:
        default = os.environ.get(r.groups()[0], '')
    r = re.match(r'client_env\((.*)\)', default)
    if r and client and getenv:
        default = os.environ.get(r.groups()[0], '')
    r = re.match(r'shell\((.*)\)', default)
    if r and not client and getshell:
        try:
            cmd = shlex.split(r.groups()[0])
            default = subprocess.check_output(
                cmd).rstrip().decode('utf8')
        except (subprocess.CalledProcessError, OSError):
            default = ''
    r = re.match(r'client_shell\((.*)\)', default)
    if r and client and getshell:
        try:
            cmd = shlex.split(r.groups()[0])
            default = subprocess.check_output(
                cmd).rstrip().decode('utf8')
        except (subprocess.CalledProcessError, OSError):
            default = ''
    return default