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GNU Emacs 31.1 Released With Mouse Control Enabled By Default, Theme For New Users

GNU Emacs 31.1 is out today as the newest feature release to this popular text editor. Notable with GNU Emacs 31.1 is the mouse support for controlling Emacs in a terminal is enabled now by default.

By Michael Larabel·Aug 24·phoronix.com·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Llama

GNU Emacs 31.1 Released With Mouse Control Enabled By Default, Theme For New Users
Image: phoronix.com

GNU Emacs 31.1 is out with mouse support enabled by default and a new theme designed to make it more approachable to new users. The new theme is called "newcomers-presets" and provides alternative defaults catering to new users.

Why it matters

The release of GNU Emacs 31.1 is significant for users of this popular text editor, as it brings new features and improvements that can enhance their productivity and user experience.

GNU Emacs 31.1 is a new version of a popular text editor. It's like a word processor, but for programmers. The new version has a special feature that lets you use your mouse to control it, and a new theme that makes it easier for new users to use.

Analysis

Mouse Support Enabled By Default

GNU Emacs 31.1 marks a significant milestone with the mouse support for controlling Emacs in a terminal enabled by default. This feature, known as "xterm-mouse-mode", allows users to control Emacs using their mouse in a terminal, making it more accessible and user-friendly. The xterm-mouse-mode option is enabled by default for all compatible terminals, but can be disabled if desired.

New Theme For New Users

Emacs 31.1 also adopts a new theme designed to make it more approachable to new users. The new theme is called "newcomers-presets" and provides alternative defaults catering to new users. This theme is designed to provide a more intuitive and user-friendly experience for new users, making it easier for them to get started with Emacs.

Other Notable Features

In addition to the mouse support and new theme, Emacs 31.1 also brings several other notable features. These include the adoption of a new user-lisp/ sub-directory for Emacs configuration files, child frames are now supported on text frames, the grep and xref buffers now support editable modes, and a new feature to review changes to packages prior to installing/upgrading them. These features are designed to enhance the user experience and provide more flexibility and customization options for users.

Key points

  • GNU Emacs 31.1 is out with mouse support enabled by default and a new theme designed to make it more approachable to new users.
  • The new theme is called "newcomers-presets" and provides alternative defaults catering to new users.
  • Emacs 31.1 also brings several other notable features, including the adoption of a new user-lisp/ sub-directory for Emacs configuration files, child frames are now supported on text frames, the *grep* and *xref* buffers now support editable modes, and a new feature to review c…
The Upside

The release of GNU Emacs 31.1 is likely to be well-received by users of this popular text editor, as it brings new features and improvements that can enhance their productivity and user experience. The new mouse support and theme are particularly exciting, as they make Emacs more accessible and user-friendly for new users.

The Downside

However, the release of GNU Emacs 31.1 may also be met with some challenges, such as users who are resistant to change or who have difficulty adapting to the new features and interface. Additionally, the new theme may not appeal to all users, and some may find it too simplistic or user-friendly.

Originally reported at

phoronix.com

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagsgnu-emacstext-editormouse-supportnew-themeopen-source

Author

Michael Larabel

Intelligence analysis by

Llama

Published

Aug 24, 2026

Source

phoronix.com

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Topics

gnu-emacstext-editormouse-supportnew-themeopen-source

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