[macOS] Unable to type Option + Number for special characters

[TitanNano]

Since 0.2.4 always uses the kitty protocol now, I'm no loger able to type special characters like []|{{} which require Option + Number key on my German keyboard (I think this also applies to other apple keyboards)

Screen.Recording.2025-01-20.at.14.15.35.mp4

In the gap between typing 5 and 6 and starting kitty, I tried typingOption + 5 or Option + 6

Output from kitty +kitten show_key -m kitty:

alt+RIGHT_ALT PRESS
CSI 57449 ; 3 u

alt+5 PRESS [
CSI 53 : 91 ; 3 ; 91 u
Shifted key: [

5 RELEASE
CSI 53 : 91 ; 1 : 3 u
Shifted key: [

alt+6 PRESS ]
CSI 54 : 93 ; 3 ; 93 u
Shifted key: ]

6 RELEASE
CSI 54 : 93 ; 1 : 3 u
Shifted key: ]

RIGHT_ALT RELEASE
CSI 57449 ; 1 : 3 u 

[raphamorim]

Thank you for the issue @TitanNano !

I will try to reproduce, in the meantime could you check if it’s reproduce able in last version of alacritty?

[TitanNano]

@raphamorim I can't reproduce the issue in alacrity with its default config.

[raphamorim]

Thank you 🙏

[TitanNano]

Kitty output when running in alacritty:

ENTER RELEASE
CSI 13 ; 1 : 3 u

alt+RIGHT_ALT PRESS
CSI 57449 ; 3 u

5 PRESS
CSI 53: 91 ; 1 ; 91 u
Shifted key: [

5 RELEASE
CSI 53 : 91 ; 1 : 3 u
Shifted key: [

RIGHT_ALT RELEASE
CSI 57449 ; 1 : 3 u

[raphamorim]

Yea I can reproduce, will look on it

Left Option + 5

Rio

alt+LEFT_ALT PRESS
CSI 57443 ; 3 u

alt+5 PRESS ∞
CSI 53 : 8734 ; 3 ; 8734 u
Shifted key: ∞

5 RELEASE
CSI 53 : 8734 ; 1 : 3 u
Shifted key: ∞

LEFT_ALT RELEASE
CSI 57443 ; 1 : 3 u



Ghostty

Press any keys - Ctrl+C or Ctrl+D will terminate
ENTER RELEASE
CSI 13 ; 1 : 3 u

alt+LEFT_ALT PRESS
CSI 57443 ; 3 u

alt+5 PRESS ∞
CSI 53 ; 3 ; 8734 u

alt+5 RELEASE
CSI 53 ; 3 : 3 u

LEFT_ALT RELEASE
CSI 57443 ; 1 : 3 u



Alacritty

Press any keys - Ctrl+C or Ctrl+D will terminate
ENTER RELEASE
CSI 13 ; 1 : 3 u

alt+LEFT_ALT PRESS
CSI 57443 ; 3 u

alt+5 PRESS ∞
CSI 53 ; 3 ; 8734 u

alt+5 RELEASE
CSI 53 ; 3 : 3 u

LEFT_ALT RELEASE
CSI 57443 ; 1 : 3 u

[raphamorim]

@TitanNano could you try from main or add to your configuration

option-as-alt = "both"

[TitanNano]

@raphamorim I just built and ran the latest main but unfortunately the behavior did not change.

[raphamorim]

alright thank you for checking it, i also noticed a bug with the previous version

[raphamorim]

@TitanNano could you try with latest main 🙏

[TitanNano]

It appears to work as intended now.

With option-as-alt disabled:

• Option + Number or any other Option combo works as expected
• applications do not recognize key combos that involve Alt i.e. Alt + d in helix. This appears to be consistent with Kitty and Alacrity.

With option-as-alt enabled for either left or right:

• the key with option-as-alt is now recognized in key combos. Typing shifted characters is no longer possible, though.
• the key without option-as-alt keeps working as an Option key.

[raphamorim]

Yea I am aware, I actually resettled the default of option as alt on macos as none. Thank you for testing 🙏 closing this issue pls let me know anything