[GH-ISSUE #75] Support alt-left and alt-shift-left keys to move cursor and selection by one word at a time #787

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opened 2026-03-14 08:33:31 +03:00 by kerem · 2 comments
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Originally created by @remorses on GitHub (Aug 25, 2025).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/anomalyco/opentui/issues/75

This feature makes it much easier to move around text, Claude Code already supports it

Also alt-delete to delete a word

Shortcuts to implement (right arrow variants omitted)

  • Alt + Left — Move cursor to start of previous word (skip adjacent spaces + first punctuation).
  • Alt + Shift + Left — Expand selection to start of previous word.
  • Alt + Delete — Delete the word to the left of the cursor.

If we manage to get cmd key somehow:

  • Cmd + Left — Move cursor to start of the current line.
  • Cmd + Shift + Left — Select from cursor to start of the current line.
  • Cmd + Delete — Delete from cursor back to the start of the current line.
Originally created by @remorses on GitHub (Aug 25, 2025). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/anomalyco/opentui/issues/75 This feature makes it much easier to move around text, Claude Code already supports it Also `alt-delete` to delete a word ### Shortcuts to implement (right arrow variants omitted) - [ ] **Alt + Left** — Move cursor to start of previous word (skip adjacent spaces + first punctuation). - [ ] **Alt + Shift + Left** — Expand selection to start of previous word. - [ ] **Alt + Delete** — Delete the word to the left of the cursor. If we manage to get cmd key somehow: - [ ] **Cmd + Left** — Move cursor to start of the current line. - [ ] **Cmd + Shift + Left** — Select from cursor to start of the current line. - [ ] **Cmd + Delete** — Delete from cursor back to the start of the current line.
kerem 2026-03-14 08:33:31 +03:00
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@kommander commented on GitHub (Oct 27, 2025):

Readline movements like per word with alt+left/right is supported by default in the new Textarea. The Input renderable will be deprecated and removed. Cmd key only works with kitty and an app can manually override the bindings for the Textarea on app level when kitty is supported imo.

<!-- gh-comment-id:3452345336 --> @kommander commented on GitHub (Oct 27, 2025): Readline movements like per word with alt+left/right is supported by default in the new Textarea. The Input renderable will be deprecated and removed. Cmd key only works with kitty and an app can manually override the bindings for the Textarea on app level when kitty is supported imo.
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@remorses commented on GitHub (Oct 27, 2025):

awesome

<!-- gh-comment-id:3452377006 --> @remorses commented on GitHub (Oct 27, 2025): awesome
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starred/opentui#787
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