add configurable select-all for composer text

Author: jameswexler1

PLAN.md

@@ -2,6 +2,16 @@
 
 ## Current Stage
 
+### Composer quality of life
+
+- [x] Configurable `Ctrl+A` selects all inline composer text, including wrapped/off-screen lines, with theme-aware highlighting and a selection notice.
+- [x] Typing, text paste, and newlines replace selection; Backspace/Delete clear it; Escape deselects before leaving insert mode. Replies/attachments are unaffected, mention metadata is discarded only on replacement, and Enter retains normal send behavior.
+- [x] Selection remains transient across chat/draft restores, sends, and external editor results. Regression tests cover Unicode, draft capture, editing isolation, remapped keys, mention autocomplete, blocked sends, and narrow rendering.
+
+Verified on Linux on 2026-09-24: `make test`, `make lint`, and full
+`make test-race`. `TestComposerSelectionHighlightAndWrapping` also provides
+a synthetic terminal capture with `go test ./internal/ui -run '^TestComposerSelectionHighlightAndWrapping$' -v`.
+
 ### Startup sync correction
 
 - [x] Import contact app-state events and resolve saved names regardless of chat/contact event order, including known identity aliases and concurrent imports.

README.md

@@ -176,6 +176,8 @@ key_normal_unload_previews = "leader h f"
 key_normal_delete_for_everybody = "leader d e"
 
 key_insert_send = "enter"
+key_insert_select_all = "ctrl+a"
+key_insert_delete = "delete"
 key_insert_newline = "ctrl+j"
 key_insert_newline_alt = "shift+enter"
 key_insert_attach = "ctrl+f"
@@ -231,7 +233,9 @@ Useful command-mode actions:
 :quit
 ```
 
-Text clipboard paste uses `key_normal_paste_text` or `:paste`. It appends clipboard text to the active chat draft, switches to insert mode, persists the draft, and does not send until the normal composer send key is pressed. Set `clipboard_paste_command` to override text clipboard reads.
+In insert mode, `Ctrl+A` selects the entire composer text, including wrapped and off-screen lines. Typing or terminal text paste replaces the selection; Backspace or Delete clears it. Escape deselects first; a second Escape leaves insert mode as usual. Attachments and reply context are not selected. Enter still sends the text. Configure these actions with `key_insert_select_all` and `key_insert_delete`; Delete without a selection does nothing because the inline caret is at the end. The help overlay shows your configured keys.
+
+Text clipboard paste uses `key_normal_paste_text` or `:paste`. It appends clipboard text to the active chat draft (or replaces an active text selection), switches to insert mode, persists the draft, and does not send until the normal composer send key is pressed. Set `clipboard_paste_command` to override text clipboard reads.
 
 Image clipboard paste/copy is image-only. `key_insert_paste_image` stages the current clipboard image as the composer attachment, preserving composer text as the caption. `key_normal_copy_image` copies the focused image message to the clipboard and auto-downloads remote image media first when possible. The default image clipboard commands auto-detect Wayland/X11 tools; set `clipboard_image_paste_command` or `clipboard_image_copy_command` to override them. Paste commands may write to `{path}` or stdout, and copy commands may use `{path}` and `{mime}` or receive image bytes on stdin.
 

config.example.toml

@@ -83,14 +83,16 @@ key_normal_save_media = "leader s"
 key_normal_unload_previews = "leader h f"
 key_normal_delete_for_everybody = "leader d e"
 
-# Insert mode
+# Insert mode (selected text: typing replaces, Backspace/Delete clears, cancel deselects)
 key_insert_attach = "ctrl+f"
 key_insert_paste_image = "ctrl+v"
 key_insert_remove_attachment = "ctrl+x"
 key_insert_newline = "ctrl+j"
 key_insert_newline_alt = "shift+enter"
 key_insert_cancel = "esc"
 key_insert_send = "enter"
+key_insert_select_all = "ctrl+a"
+key_insert_delete = "delete"
 key_insert_backspace = "backspace"
 key_insert_backspace_alt = "ctrl+h"
 key_insert_mention_select_alt = "tab"

internal/config/config_test.go

@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ func TestLoadDefaultsWhenConfigMissing(t *testing.T) {
 	if cfg.Keymap.NormalReact != "leader r" || cfg.Keymap.ReactionCustom != "enter" || cfg.Keymap.ReactionClear != "0" || cfg.Keymap.ReactionSelect1 != "1" || cfg.Keymap.ReactionSelect9 != "9" {
 		t.Fatalf("reaction keymap defaults = normal %q custom %q clear %q select1 %q select9 %q", cfg.Keymap.NormalReact, cfg.Keymap.ReactionCustom, cfg.Keymap.ReactionClear, cfg.Keymap.ReactionSelect1, cfg.Keymap.ReactionSelect9)
 	}
+	if cfg.Keymap.InsertSelectAll != "ctrl+a" || cfg.Keymap.InsertDelete != "delete" {
+		t.Fatalf("composer selection defaults = %q/%q", cfg.Keymap.InsertSelectAll, cfg.Keymap.InsertDelete)
+	}
 	if cfg.PreviewMaxWidth != 67 || cfg.PreviewMaxHeight != 18 {
 		t.Fatalf("preview defaults = %dx%d, want 67x18", cfg.PreviewMaxWidth, cfg.PreviewMaxHeight)
 	}
@@ -114,6 +117,8 @@ func TestLoadParsesSupportedKeys(t *testing.T) {
 		`key_insert_mention_move_down = "j"`,
 		`key_insert_mention_move_up = "k"`,
 		`key_insert_send = "ctrl+s"`,
+		`key_insert_select_all = "ctrl+e"`,
+		`key_insert_delete = "ctrl+d"`,
 		`key_visual_forward = "F"`,
 		`key_visual_delete_for_everybody = "leader d e"`,
 		`key_forward_search = "s"`,
@@ -191,6 +196,9 @@ func TestLoadParsesSupportedKeys(t *testing.T) {
 	if cfg.Keymap.NormalQuit != "x" || cfg.Keymap.NormalOpenMediaDetached != "alt+enter" || cfg.Keymap.NormalYankMessage != "Y" || cfg.Keymap.NormalPasteText != "P" || cfg.Keymap.NormalEditMessage != "leader e" || cfg.Keymap.NormalComposeEditor != "leader z" || cfg.Keymap.NormalReact != "leader x" || cfg.Keymap.NormalForward != "leader f" || cfg.Keymap.NormalPickSticker != "leader t" || cfg.Keymap.NormalTogglePinned != "leader p" || cfg.Keymap.NormalToggleNotifications != "leader m" || cfg.Keymap.NormalCopyImage != "leader c" || cfg.Keymap.NormalSaveMedia != "leader y" || cfg.Keymap.InsertPasteImage != "ctrl+p" || cfg.Keymap.InsertMentionSelectAlt != "alt+enter" || cfg.Keymap.InsertMentionMoveDown != "j" || cfg.Keymap.InsertMentionMoveUp != "k" || cfg.Keymap.InsertSend != "ctrl+s" || cfg.Keymap.VisualForward != "F" || cfg.Keymap.VisualDeleteForEverybody != "leader d e" || cfg.Keymap.ForwardSearch != "s" || cfg.Keymap.ReactionSelect1 != "a" || cfg.Keymap.ReactionClear != "c" {
 		t.Fatalf("keymap = quit %q detached-open %q yank %q paste-text %q edit %q compose-editor %q react %q normal-forward %q sticker %q pinned %q notifications %q copy-image %q save %q paste-image %q mention-select %q mention-down %q mention-up %q send %q visual-forward %q visual-delete %q forward-search %q reaction1 %q reaction-clear %q", cfg.Keymap.NormalQuit, cfg.Keymap.NormalOpenMediaDetached, cfg.Keymap.NormalYankMessage, cfg.Keymap.NormalPasteText, cfg.Keymap.NormalEditMessage, cfg.Keymap.NormalComposeEditor, cfg.Keymap.NormalReact, cfg.Keymap.NormalForward, cfg.Keymap.NormalPickSticker, cfg.Keymap.NormalTogglePinned, cfg.Keymap.NormalToggleNotifications, cfg.Keymap.NormalCopyImage, cfg.Keymap.NormalSaveMedia, cfg.Keymap.InsertPasteImage, cfg.Keymap.InsertMentionSelectAlt, cfg.Keymap.InsertMentionMoveDown, cfg.Keymap.InsertMentionMoveUp, cfg.Keymap.InsertSend, cfg.Keymap.VisualForward, cfg.Keymap.VisualDeleteForEverybody, cfg.Keymap.ForwardSearch, cfg.Keymap.ReactionSelect1, cfg.Keymap.ReactionClear)
 	}
+	if cfg.Keymap.InsertSelectAll != "ctrl+e" || cfg.Keymap.InsertDelete != "ctrl+d" {
+		t.Fatalf("composer selection overrides = %q/%q", cfg.Keymap.InsertSelectAll, cfg.Keymap.InsertDelete)
+	}
 	if cfg.PreviewMaxWidth != 44 || cfg.PreviewMaxHeight != 10 || cfg.PreviewDelayMS != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("preview sizing = %dx%d delay=%d", cfg.PreviewMaxWidth, cfg.PreviewMaxHeight, cfg.PreviewDelayMS)
 	}
@@ -523,6 +531,8 @@ func TestEnsureDefaultFileCreatesStandardConfig(t *testing.T) {
 		`key_normal_unload_previews = "leader h f"`,
 		`key_normal_delete_for_everybody = "leader d e"`,
 		`key_insert_attach = "ctrl+f"`,
+		`key_insert_select_all = "ctrl+a"`,
+		`key_insert_delete = "delete"`,
 		`key_insert_paste_image = "ctrl+v"`,
 		`key_insert_newline_alt = "shift+enter"`,
 		`key_insert_mention_select_alt = "tab"`,
@@ -631,6 +641,9 @@ func TestExampleConfigParses(t *testing.T) {
 	if cfg.Keymap.InsertPasteImage != "ctrl+v" {
 		t.Fatalf("InsertPasteImage = %q, want ctrl+v", cfg.Keymap.InsertPasteImage)
 	}
+	if cfg.Keymap.InsertSelectAll != "ctrl+a" || cfg.Keymap.InsertDelete != "delete" {
+		t.Fatalf("example composer selection keys = %q/%q", cfg.Keymap.InsertSelectAll, cfg.Keymap.InsertDelete)
+	}
 	if cfg.Keymap.InsertNewlineAlt != "shift+enter" {
 		t.Fatalf("InsertNewlineAlt = %q, want shift+enter", cfg.Keymap.InsertNewlineAlt)
 	}

internal/config/default_file.go

@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func DefaultFileContent(paths Paths) string {
 	bindings := KeymapBindings(cfg.Keymap)
 	writeKeyGroup(&b, "Sync screen (cached browsing does not enable sending)", keyBindingsForMode(bindings, KeyModeSync))
 	writeKeyGroup(&b, "Normal mode", keyBindingsForMode(bindings, KeyModeNormal))
-	writeKeyGroup(&b, "Insert mode", keyBindingsForMode(bindings, KeyModeInsert))
+	writeKeyGroup(&b, "Insert mode (selected text: typing replaces, Backspace/Delete clears, cancel deselects)", keyBindingsForMode(bindings, KeyModeInsert))
 	writeKeyGroup(&b, "Visual mode", keyBindingsForMode(bindings, KeyModeVisual))
 	writeKeyGroup(&b, "Forward picker", keyBindingsForMode(bindings, KeyModeForward))
 	writeKeyGroup(&b, "Reaction picker", keyBindingsForMode(bindings, KeyModeReaction))

internal/config/keymap.go

@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ type Keymap struct {
 	InsertNewlineAlt       string
 	InsertCancel           string
 	InsertSend             string
+	InsertSelectAll        string
+	InsertDelete           string
 	InsertBackspace        string
 	InsertBackspaceAlt     string
 	InsertMentionSelectAlt string
@@ -180,6 +182,8 @@ func DefaultKeymap() Keymap {
 		InsertNewlineAlt:       "shift+enter",
 		InsertCancel:           "esc",
 		InsertSend:             "enter",
+		InsertSelectAll:        "ctrl+a",
+		InsertDelete:           "delete",
 		InsertBackspace:        "backspace",
 		InsertBackspaceAlt:     "ctrl+h",
 		InsertMentionSelectAlt: "tab",
@@ -376,6 +380,12 @@ func NormalizeKeymap(input Keymap) Keymap {
 	if input.InsertSend == "" {
 		input.InsertSend = defaults.InsertSend
 	}
+	if input.InsertSelectAll == "" {
+		input.InsertSelectAll = defaults.InsertSelectAll
+	}
+	if input.InsertDelete == "" {
+		input.InsertDelete = defaults.InsertDelete
+	}
 	if input.InsertBackspace == "" {
 		input.InsertBackspace = defaults.InsertBackspace
 	}
@@ -561,6 +571,8 @@ func KeymapBindings(k Keymap) []KeyBinding {
 		{Name: "key_insert_newline_alt", Mode: KeyModeInsert, Value: k.InsertNewlineAlt},
 		{Name: "key_insert_cancel", Mode: KeyModeInsert, Value: k.InsertCancel},
 		{Name: "key_insert_send", Mode: KeyModeInsert, Value: k.InsertSend},
+		{Name: "key_insert_select_all", Mode: KeyModeInsert, Value: k.InsertSelectAll},
+		{Name: "key_insert_delete", Mode: KeyModeInsert, Value: k.InsertDelete},
 		{Name: "key_insert_backspace", Mode: KeyModeInsert, Value: k.InsertBackspace},
 		{Name: "key_insert_backspace_alt", Mode: KeyModeInsert, Value: k.InsertBackspaceAlt},
 		{Name: "key_insert_mention_select_alt", Mode: KeyModeInsert, Value: k.InsertMentionSelectAlt},
@@ -708,6 +720,10 @@ func SetKeyBinding(k *Keymap, name, value string) error {
 		k.InsertCancel = normalized
 	case "key_insert_send":
 		k.InsertSend = normalized
+	case "key_insert_select_all":
+		k.InsertSelectAll = normalized
+	case "key_insert_delete":
+		k.InsertDelete = normalized
 	case "key_insert_backspace":
 		k.InsertBackspace = normalized
 	case "key_insert_backspace_alt":
@@ -847,7 +863,7 @@ func ParseKeyToken(value string) (string, error) {
 	}
 	lower := strings.ToLower(value)
 	switch lower {
-	case "enter", "shift+enter", "esc", "tab", "shift+tab", "backspace", "up", "down":
+	case "enter", "shift+enter", "esc", "tab", "shift+tab", "backspace", "delete", "up", "down":
 		return lower, nil
 	case "leader":
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("leader is only valid in key bindings, not as a key token")

internal/ui/composer.go

@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ func (m *Model) restoreComposerDraft(chatID string) {
 	draft := m.composerDrafts[chatID]
 	draft.Body = m.draftsByChat[chatID]
 	m.composer = draft.Body
+	m.composerSelectAll = false
 	m.composerMentions = slices.Clone(draft.Mentions)
 	m.replyTo = draft.Reply
 	m.attachments = nil

internal/ui/composer_actions.go

@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ func (m Model) startComposeEditor() (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	m.mode = ModeInsert
 	m.focus = FocusMessages
 	m.composer = initial
+	m.composerSelectAll = false
 	m.composerMentions = slices.Clone(m.composerMentionsByChat[chatID])
 	m.clearMentionState()
 	cmd := m.composeInEditor(chatID, initial)
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@ func (m Model) beginEditFocusedMessage() (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	m.mode = ModeInsert
 	m.focus = FocusMessages
 	m.composer = message.Body
+	m.composerSelectAll = false
 	m.attachments = nil
 	m.replyTo = nil
 	target := message
@@ -100,6 +102,7 @@ func (m Model) handleComposerEdited(msg ComposerEditedMsg) (Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.mode = ModeInsert
 		m.focus = FocusMessages
 		m.composer = msg.Body
+		m.composerSelectAll = false
 		m.composerMentions = nil
 	}
 	m.localSetDraft(chatID, msg.Body)
@@ -137,6 +140,21 @@ func (m Model) beginInsert(quote *store.Message) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 func (m Model) updateInsert(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	m.composerVersion++
 	keys := m.config.Keymap
+	if m.keyMatches(msg, keys.InsertSelectAll) {
+		m.clearMentionState()
+		m.composerSelectAll = m.composer != ""
+		return m, nil
+	}
+	if m.keyMatches(msg, keys.InsertDelete) {
+		// The inline composer currently keeps its caret at the end, so Delete
+		// only has work to do when text is selected.
+		m.deleteComposerSelection()
+		return m, nil
+	}
+	if m.composerSelectAll && m.keyMatches(msg, keys.InsertCancel) {
+		m.composerSelectAll = false
+		return m, nil
+	}
 	if updated, cmd, handled := m.handleMentionKey(msg); handled {
 		return updated, cmd
 	}
@@ -170,7 +188,7 @@ func (m Model) updateInsert(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	}
 	if m.keyMatches(msg, keys.InsertNewline) || m.keyMatches(msg, keys.InsertNewlineAlt) {
 		m.clearMentionState()
-		m.composer += "\n"
+		m.appendComposerText("\n")
 		m.sendOwnPresence(m.currentChat().ID, true)
 		return m, ownPresenceIdleCmd(m.currentChat().ID, m.ownPresenceGeneration)
 	}
@@ -180,6 +198,7 @@ func (m Model) updateInsert(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		if m.editTarget != nil {
 			chatID := m.currentChat().ID
 			m.composer = ""
+			m.composerSelectAll = false
 			m.composerMentions = nil
 			m.clearMentionState()
 			m.attachments = nil
@@ -202,6 +221,7 @@ func (m Model) updateInsert(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		if body == "" && len(m.attachments) == 0 {
 			m.status = "empty message"
 			m.composer = ""
+			m.composerSelectAll = false
 			return m, nil
 		}
 		chatID := m.currentChat().ID
@@ -268,6 +288,7 @@ func (m Model) updateInsert(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.messageCursor = len(m.messagesByChat[chatID]) - 1
 		m.messageScrollTop = m.messageCursor
 		m.composer = ""
+		m.composerSelectAll = false
 		m.composerMentions = nil
 		delete(m.composerMentionsByChat, chatID)
 		m.clearMentionState()
@@ -342,6 +363,7 @@ func (m *Model) appendComposerText(text string) tea.Cmd {
 	if text == "" {
 		return nil
 	}
+	m.deleteComposerSelection()
 	start := len(m.composer)
 	m.composer += text
 	if text == "@" && m.canStartMention() {
@@ -363,10 +385,25 @@ func keyText(msg tea.KeyMsg) string {
 }
 
 func (m *Model) backspaceComposer() {
+	if m.deleteComposerSelection() {
+		return
+	}
 	m.composer = trimLastCluster(m.composer)
 	m.pruneComposerMentions()
 }
 
+// Selection is transient and applies only to text, never attachments or replies.
+func (m *Model) deleteComposerSelection() bool {
+	if !m.composerSelectAll {
+		return false
+	}
+	m.composerSelectAll = false
+	m.composer = ""
+	m.composerMentions = nil
+	m.clearMentionState()
+	return true
+}
+
 func (m Model) canStartMention() bool {
 	if m.editTarget != nil || m.searchMentionCandidates == nil {
 		return false