helix: Alt(Opt)+_ keymaps do Not work on macOS

Summary

None of the Alt+_ (opt+_) keys work on Mac.

Combining experiences (from Matrix chat and testing) neither on Intel nor M1 macs. And neither OSX_11 nor OSX_12. And in neither in default_OSX_terminal nor iTerm2.

iTerm2 allows remapping of Alt/Opt to send an escape code instead. Doing this seems to fix it here. (process outlined here:: https://www.clairecodes.com/blog/2018-10-15-making-the-alt-key-work-in-iterm2/). Though I’m not sure if it causes any other issues.

Note: Alt/Opt does not work by default in iTerm2, but it DOES work by default in the default_osX_terminal – however the Alt/Opt+_ does not work in Helix in EITHER.

Reproduction Steps

I tried this: Any of the Alt+_ key sequences are sufficient for testing. Alt+` is a simple one, as it sends a selection to uppercase. Alt+. (repeat last motion) is another simple one.

I expected this to happen: The listed commands to work.

Instead, this happened: Standard behavior or nothing. (in cases where a combining mark would be produced (e.g. Alt+` or Alt+u, which create ` or ¨, respectively the highlighted combining mark is produced even though Helix is in Normal_Mode…)

Helix log

2022-04-25T06:08:09.677 helix_view::editor [ERROR] Failed to initialize the LSP for source.julia { cannot find binary path } 2022-04-25T07:45:54.383 helix_view::editor [ERROR] Failed to initialize the LSP for source.toml { LSP not defined } 2022-04-25T21:42:53.303 helix_view::theme [WARN] Theme: invalid style attribute: modifier 2022-04-25T21:43:18.683 helix_view::theme [WARN] Theme: malformed hexcode: fg 2022-04-25T21:43:18.683 helix_view::theme [WARN] Theme: malformed hexcode: form 2022-04-25T21:43:54.696 helix_view::theme [WARN] Theme: malformed hexcode: light-white 2022-04-25T21:44:44.544 helix_view::editor [ERROR] Failed to initialize the LSP for source.python { cannot find binary path } 2022-04-25T21:45:15.281 helix_view::theme [WARN] Theme: malformed hexcode: light-white 2022-04-25T21:46:12.776 helix_view::theme [WARN] Theme: malformed hexcode: foreground 2022-04-25T21:46:12.777 helix_view::theme [WARN] Theme: invalid style attribute: Modifiers 2022-04-25T21:46:12.777 helix_view::theme [WARN] Theme: malformed hexcode: grey3 2022-04-25T21:46:12.777 helix_view::theme [WARN] Theme: malformed hexcode: pink 2022-04-25T21:46:45.319 helix_view::theme [WARN] Theme: invalid style attribute: modifier 2022-04-25T21:47:35.998 helix_view::theme [WARN] Theme: malformed hexcode: light-white 2022-04-25T21:47:48.178 helix_view::theme [WARN] Theme: malformed hexcode: form 2022-04-25T21:47:48.178 helix_view::theme [WARN] Theme: malformed hexcode: fg 2022-04-25T21:48:26.578 helix_view::theme [WARN] Theme: malformed hexcode: light-white 2022-04-25T23:41:49.234 helix_view::editor [ERROR] Failed to initialize the LSP for source.toml { LSP not defined }

Platform

macOS

Terminal Emulator

default_Version 2.11 (440) && iTerm2_Build_3.4.15

Helix Version

helix 22.03 (d4e45fd4)

About this issue

Original URL
State: open
Created 2 years ago
Reactions: 12
Comments: 16 (7 by maintainers)

Most upvoted comments

On further reading this what Helix is doing is the standard for most CLI programs. Mac Opt is different than Alt (with behavior like accenting characters). And terminal emulators that support macOS (almost?) invariably have a way to map the key code, typically to “Esc+”.

I don’t know what the practicality would be for Helix to work with both the default and mapped keycodes. But, minus giving explicit optioning support in program, naively the best path would be to retain current behavior, but (much like documentation reccomends a terminal emulator to get 24-bit colors) note that remapping the Opt_key is commonly done in mac terminal environments to access Alt-key short-cuts.

Given that Helix is especially appealing to terminal newcomers [raises hand] – that bit of documentation will probably help some users.

For (hopefully) helpful reference here is how you remap Opt in 5 common terminal emulators on macOS.

Opt_key ~~~> ≃Alt_key

iTerm2 (3.4.15) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > Profiles > Keys > General > [radio button interface]

Kitty (0.25.1) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > search for max_os_opt_as_alt > uncomment and set to left, right, or both

WezTerm (20220408-101518-b908e2dd) [unneeded web reference] : Already mapped by default. 👍

Alacritty (0.10.1) [web ≈reference]
- I was not able to quickly find clear documentation for this. By default, testing with Opt+` in Helix: running the command once did nothing and running it a second time performed the desired action. This seemed to occur regardless of time between key-combo presses, as long as there were no intervening presses. If anyone has info to add on configuring Alacrity keymapping behavior or documentation on the above behavior: please do share. 😃
“Terminal” macOS_default (2.12.7) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > Profiles > click button at bottom labelled “Use Option as Meta key”

+38

ethanmsl on Jun 24, 2022

On further reading this what Helix is doing is the standard for most CLI programs. Mac Opt is different than Alt (with behavior like accenting characters). And terminal emulators that support macOS (almost?) invariably have a way to map the key code, typically to “Esc+”.

I don’t know what the practicality would be for Helix to work with both the default and mapped keycodes. But, minus giving explicit optioning support in program, naively the best path would be to retain current behavior, but (much like documentation reccomends a terminal emulator to get 24-bit colors) note that remapping the Opt_key is commonly done in mac terminal environments to access Alt-key short-cuts.

Given that Helix is especially appealing to terminal newcomers [raises hand] – that bit of documentation will probably help some users.

For (hopefully) helpful reference here is how you remap Opt in 5 common terminal emulators on macOS.

Opt_key ~~~> ≃Alt_key

iTerm2 (3.4.15) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > Profiles > Keys > General > [radio button interface]

Kitty (0.25.1) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > search for max_os_opt_as_alt > uncomment and set to left, right, or both

WezTerm (20220408-101518-b908e2dd) [unneeded web reference] : Already mapped by default. 👍

Alacritty (0.10.1) [web ≈reference]

I was not able to quickly find clear documentation for this. By default, testing with Opt+` in Helix: running the command once did nothing and running it a second time performed the desired action. This seemed to occur regardless of time between key-combo presses, as long as there were no intervening presses. If anyone has info to add on configuring Alacrity keymapping behavior or documentation on the above behavior: please do share. 😃

“Terminal” macOS_default (2.12.7) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > Profiles > click button at bottom labelled “Use Option as Meta key”

It would be awesome to see this linked in the documentation somewhere so that newcomers can quickly move past this issue.

dcow on Nov 17, 2022

For Alacritty, I think this is relevant. A six year old issue in Alacritty has just been resolved with an upstream change to winit:

https://github.com/alacritty/alacritty/commit/d9ba129e9e722a551cc0cc4c1899c97593ca26b4

This allows the Option key to behave as Alt. An example alacritty.yml will look like:

window:
  # Make `Option` key behave as `Alt` (macOS only):
  #   - OnlyLeft
  #   - OnlyRight
  #   - Both
  #   - None (default)
  option_as_alt: OnlyLeft

Not released yet, but I’d imagine this will be out in the next version. These are the related issues leading to the change:

https://github.com/alacritty/alacritty/issues/62 https://github.com/rust-windowing/winit/pull/2576

joshbainbridge on Feb 4, 2023

+1 with this issue, and using Warp as the terminal app, but can be fixed by setting the preferences as follows:

MattWilcox on Jan 20, 2023

My 2 cents, when using Use Option as Meta key in Terminal it solves the problem… but you cannot use option as compose key anymore, and thus typing accents for example.

nikaro on Sep 1, 2022

I’m using linux but I had a similar problem because I configured my left alt key to be used as the level-3 key because I often use level-3 characters on my keyboard layout.

I solved the problem by just mapping the characters that my keyboard layout produces for alt+<something>:

"ó" = "repeat_last_motion"
"ĳ" = "expand_selection"
"ú" = "shrink_selection"
"ù" = "select_prev_sibling"
"ø" = "select_next_sibling"

(this is for the EurKEY layout)

tmke8 on Apr 26, 2022

WezTerm (20220408-101518-b908e2dd) [unneeded web reference] : Already mapped by default. 👍

wezterm 20230320-124340-559cb7b0 does not appear to map this by default. I had to add this to my config:

config.send_composed_key_when_left_alt_is_pressed = false
config.send_composed_key_when_right_alt_is_pressed = false

See: https://wezfurlong.org/wezterm/config/keyboard-concepts.html#macos-left-and-right-option-key https://github.com/wez/wezterm/issues/216

rcorre on Jun 27, 2023

The characters that @ethanmsl provided are the same ones that show up when I run showkey -a on Linux via SSH in iTerm2.

It’s also what you get by default when typing in any text input on Mac OS. Mac OS just seems to translate the Alt+<key> presses into other unicode code points.

Here’s the whole keyboard:

` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 - = DELETE

` 	 96 0140 0x60 # A-` (combining character; not emitted until followed by a second keypress that doesn't combine)
` 	 96 0140 0x60 # A-~
¡ 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-1
 	161 0241 0xa1
⁄ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-!
 	129 0201 0x81
 	132 0204 0x84
™ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-2
 	132 0204 0x84
 	162 0242 0xa2
€ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-@
 	130 0202 0x82
 	172 0254 0xac
£ 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-3
 	163 0243 0xa3
‹ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-#
 	128 0200 0x80
 	185 0271 0xb9
¢ 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-4
 	162 0242 0xa2
› 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-$
 	128 0200 0x80
 	186 0272 0xba
∞ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-5
 	136 0210 0x88
 	158 0236 0x9e
ﬁ 	239 0357 0xef # A-%
 	172 0254 0xac
 	129 0201 0x81
§ 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-6
 	167 0247 0xa7
ﬂ 	239 0357 0xef # A-^
 	172 0254 0xac
 	130 0202 0x82
¶ 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-7
 	182 0266 0xb6
‡ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-&
 	128 0200 0x80
 	161 0241 0xa1
• 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-8
 	128 0200 0x80
 	162 0242 0xa2
° 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-*
 	176 0260 0xb0
ª 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-9
 	170 0252 0xaa
· 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-(
 	183 0267 0xb7
º 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-0
 	186 0272 0xba
‚ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-)
 	128 0200 0x80
 	154 0232 0x9a
– 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-<->
 	128 0200 0x80
 	147 0223 0x93
— 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-_
 	128 0200 0x80
 	148 0224 0x94
≠ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-=
 	137 0211 0x89
 	160 0240 0xa0
± 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-+
 	177 0261 0xb1
^? 	127 0177 0x7f # A-<DELETE> (backspace)

TAB q w e r t y u i o p [ ] \

	 	  9 0011 0x09 # A-<TAB>
^[[Z 	 27 0033 0x1b # A-<SHIFT+TAB>
 	 91 0133 0x5b
 	 90 0132 0x5a
œ 	197 0305 0xc5 # A-q
 	147 0223 0x93
Œ 	197 0305 0xc5 # A-Q
 	146 0222 0x92
∑ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-w
 	136 0210 0x88
 	145 0221 0x91
„ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-W
 	128 0200 0x80
 	158 0236 0x9e
´ 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-e (combining character; not emitted until followed by a second keypress that doesn't combine)
 	180 0264 0xb4
´ 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-E (normal; not a combining character like above)
 	180 0264 0xb4
® 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-r
 	174 0256 0xae
‰ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-R
 	128 0200 0x80
 	176 0260 0xb0
† 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-t
 	128 0200 0x80
 	160 0240 0xa0
ˇ 	203 0313 0xcb # A-T
 	135 0207 0x87
\ 	 92 0134 0x5c # A-y
Á 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-Y
 	129 0201 0x81
¨ 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-u (combining character; not emitted until followed by a second keypress that doesn't combine)
 	168 0250 0xa8
¨ 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-U (normal; not a combining character like above)
 	168 0250 0xa8
ˆ 	203 0313 0xcb # A-i (combining character; not emitted until followed by a second keypress that doesn't combine)
 	134 0206 0x86
ˆ 	203 0313 0xcb # A-I (normal; not a combining character like above)
 	134 0206 0x86
ø 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-o
 	184 0270 0xb8
Ø 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-O
 	152 0230 0x98
π 	207 0317 0xcf # A-p
 	128 0200 0x80
∏ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-P
 	136 0210 0x88
 	143 0217 0x8f
“ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-[
 	128 0200 0x80
 	156 0234 0x9c
” 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-{
 	128 0200 0x80
 	157 0235 0x9d
‘ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-]
 	128 0200 0x80
 	152 0230 0x98
’ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-}
 	128 0200 0x80
 	153 0231 0x99
« 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-\
 	171 0253 0xab
» 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-|
 	187 0273 0xbb

a s d f g h j k l ; ' ENTER

å 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-a
 	165 0245 0xa5
Å 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-A
 	133 0205 0x85
ß 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-s
 	159 0237 0x9f
Í 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-S
 	141 0215 0x8d
∂ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-d
 	136 0210 0x88
 	130 0202 0x82
Î 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-D
 	142 0216 0x8e
ƒ 	198 0306 0xc6 # A-f
 	146 0222 0x92
Ï 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-F
 	143 0217 0x8f
© 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-g
 	169 0251 0xa9
˝ 	203 0313 0xcb # A-G
 	157 0235 0x9d
˙ 	203 0313 0xcb # A-h
 	153 0231 0x99
Ó 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-H
 	147 0223 0x93
∆ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-j
 	136 0210 0x88
 	134 0206 0x86
Ô 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-J
 	148 0224 0x94
˚ 	203 0313 0xcb # A-k
 	154 0232 0x9a
 	239 0357 0xef # A-K
 	163 0243 0xa3
 	191 0277 0xbf
¬ 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-l
 	172 0254 0xac
Ò 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-L
 	146 0222 0x92
… 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-;
 	128 0200 0x80
 	166 0246 0xa6
Ú 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-:
 	154 0232 0x9a
æ 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-'
 	166 0246 0xa6
Æ 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-"
 	134 0206 0x86
^M 	 13 0015 0x0d # A-<ENTER> and A-<SHIFT+ENTER>

z x c v b n m , . /

Ω 	206 0316 0xce # A-z
 	169 0251 0xa9
¸ 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-Z
 	184 0270 0xb8
≈ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-x
 	137 0211 0x89
 	136 0210 0x88
˛ 	203 0313 0xcb # A-X
 	155 0233 0x9b
ç 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-c
 	167 0247 0xa7
Ç 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-C
 	135 0207 0x87
√ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-v
 	136 0210 0x88
 	154 0232 0x9a
◊ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-V
 	151 0227 0x97
 	138 0212 0x8a
∫ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-b
 	136 0210 0x88
 	171 0253 0xab
ı 	196 0304 0xc4 # A-B
 	177 0261 0xb1
˜ 	203 0313 0xcb # A-n (combining character; not emitted until followed by a second keypress that doesn't combine)
 	156 0234 0x9c
˜ 	203 0313 0xcb # A-N (normal; not a combining character like above)
 	156 0234 0x9c
µ 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-m
 	181 0265 0xb5
Â 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-M
 	130 0202 0x82
≤ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-,
 	137 0211 0x89
 	164 0244 0xa4
¯ 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-<
 	175 0257 0xaf
≥ 	226 0342 0xe2 # A-.
 	137 0211 0x89
 	165 0245 0xa5
˘ 	203 0313 0xcb # A->
 	152 0230 0x98
÷ 	195 0303 0xc3 # A-/
 	183 0267 0xb7
¿ 	194 0302 0xc2 # A-?
 	191 0277 0xbf

BGR360 on Jun 24, 2022

showkey isn’t available on mac (in zsh, bash, or fish).
The C code from http://catb.org/esr/showkey/ can be downloaded, compiled, and run in terminal, but it doesn’t output the raw codes.
https://manytricks.com/keycodes/ is an app that gives keycodes on press, but only when you’re in that app – so if there’s any nuance going on with the terminal it can’t inform you about it

Using the 3rd option above:

(Alt := Option)

Alt-h - ˙ - 4 / 0x4
Alt-j - ∆ - 38 / 0x26
Alt-k - ˚ - 40 / 0x28
Alt-l - ¬ - 37 / 0x25
Alt-; - … - 41 / 0x29

Cntl-h - `` - 4 / 0x4
Cntl-j - `` - 38 / 0x26
Cntl-k - `` - 40 / 0x28
Cntl-l - `` - 37 / 0x25
Cntl-; - `` - 41 / 0x29

If there’s a more useful way to acquire and relay these just lmk.

ethanmsl on May 28, 2022

helix: Alt(Opt)+_ keymaps do Not work on macOS

Summary

Reproduction Steps

Helix log

Platform

Terminal Emulator

Helix Version

About this issue

Most upvoted comments

Opt_key ~~~> ≃Alt_key

iTerm2 (3.4.15) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > Profiles > Keys > General > [radio button interface]

Kitty (0.25.1) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > search for `max_os_opt_as_alt` > uncomment and set to `left`, `right`, or `both`

WezTerm (20220408-101518-b908e2dd) [unneeded web reference] : Already mapped by default. 👍

Alacritty (0.10.1) [web ≈reference]

“Terminal” macOS_default (2.12.7) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > Profiles > click button at bottom labelled “Use Option as Meta key”

Opt_key ~~~> ≃Alt_key

iTerm2 (3.4.15) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > Profiles > Keys > General > [radio button interface]

Kitty (0.25.1) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > search for `max_os_opt_as_alt` > uncomment and set to `left`, `right`, or `both`

WezTerm (20220408-101518-b908e2dd) [unneeded web reference] : Already mapped by default. 👍

Alacritty (0.10.1) [web ≈reference]

“Terminal” macOS_default (2.12.7) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > Profiles > click button at bottom labelled “Use Option as Meta key”

helix: Alt(Opt)+_ keymaps do Not work on macOS

Summary

Reproduction Steps

Helix log

Platform

Terminal Emulator

Helix Version

About this issue

Most upvoted comments

Opt_key ~~~> ≃Alt_key

iTerm2 (3.4.15) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > Profiles > Keys > General > [radio button interface]

Kitty (0.25.1) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > search for max_os_opt_as_alt > uncomment and set to left, right, or both

WezTerm (20220408-101518-b908e2dd) [unneeded web reference] : Already mapped by default. 👍

Alacritty (0.10.1) [web ≈reference]

“Terminal” macOS_default (2.12.7) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > Profiles > click button at bottom labelled “Use Option as Meta key”

Opt_key ~~~> ≃Alt_key

iTerm2 (3.4.15) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > Profiles > Keys > General > [radio button interface]

Kitty (0.25.1) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > search for max_os_opt_as_alt > uncomment and set to left, right, or both

WezTerm (20220408-101518-b908e2dd) [unneeded web reference] : Already mapped by default. 👍

Alacritty (0.10.1) [web ≈reference]

“Terminal” macOS_default (2.12.7) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > Profiles > click button at bottom labelled “Use Option as Meta key”

Kitty (0.25.1) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > search for `max_os_opt_as_alt` > uncomment and set to `left`, `right`, or `both`

Kitty (0.25.1) [web reference] : remapping is done via Preferences > search for `max_os_opt_as_alt` > uncomment and set to `left`, `right`, or `both`