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macOS Option key as Alt in Skink (Ω instead of a shortcut)

Every key also runs by name: Ctrl+E, then type it.

Mac terminals type a character for Option+key (Option+Z gives Ω), which would break every Alt shortcut. Skink reads those characters back as the Alt chord whenever that chord does something, so most shortcuts just work.

For the few that cannot be read back, set your terminal to send Option as Alt. Or skip Alt entirely: every key also has a typed command.

What Skink does by default

Section titled “What Skink does by default”

With the default "macoptionisalt": "auto":

  • Option+Z zooms and Option+P opens quick open, because those Alt chords are bound.
  • Where the chord means nothing, the character is typed. You can still write Ω in a plain buffer.

The macoptionisalt setting

Section titled “The macoptionisalt setting”
Value Behaviour
"auto" Translate an Option character only when the matching Alt chord is bound (default)
"always" Translate every Option character to an Alt chord, on any platform
"never" Type the characters as they are 
{ "macoptionisalt": "always" }

Dead keys need a terminal setting

Section titled “Dead keys need a terminal setting”

Option+E, I, N, U and ` are dead keys. They wait for the next letter to make an accented character, so Skink never sees them.

To use those chords, and for the most reliable result overall, tell your terminal to send Option as Alt:

In the Ghostty config:

macos-option-as-alt = left

The left Option becomes Alt; the right one still types special characters. Skink also turns on the kitty keyboard protocol in Ghostty.

Setting only the left Option keeps the right one for typing characters like € or ü.

Keys that never need Alt

Section titled “Keys that never need Alt”

If you would rather not change anything, these do their jobs without Option:

Job Use
Command palette (every action) F1
Quick open (instead of Option+P) :recent
Zoom (instead of Option+Z) :zoom
Show or hide dotfiles (instead of Option+H) :dotfiles
Debugging F5 start / continue, F9 breakpoint, F10 step over
Undo Ctrl+Z
Any other key Ctrl+E, then type its command

Cmd keys and F-keys

Section titled “Cmd keys and F-keys”

Cmd shortcuts belong to your terminal (copy, paste, new window), not to Skink.

Some laptops need Fn for F-keys. Check your keyboard settings, or turn on “Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys” in macOS Keyboard settings.

Section titled “Related”