GNU bug report logs - #79845
31.0.50; (key-binding (kbd "C-c ^")) get an empty sparse keymap

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: "Yue Yi" <include_yy <at> qq.com>
To: "bug-gnu-emacs" <bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org>
Subject: 31.0.50; (key-binding (kbd "C-c ^")) get an empty sparse keymap
Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2025 23:51:34 +0800

Hello Emacs maintainers,

During a random key press, I noticed that C-c ^ did not explicitly
display "xxx is undefined" in the echo area.  I was curious, so I
evaluated the expression mentioned in the title (referring to the key
binding for C-c ^) and got an empty keymap.

(key-binding (kbd "C-c ^")) => (keymap)

I did not observe this result in 30.2, where its value was the normal
nil.  I am aware that this binding is `org-sort' under Org-mode, but the
test environment I chose was fundamental-mode, and I launched Emacs
using emacs -Q.

I would like to ask if this is a new feature introduced in Emacs 31 or
an inadvertently introduced key binding? (It's worth noting that C-h m
does not show this binding in either 30.2 or 31.0.50).

Regards.

Message #8 received at 79845 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Robert Pluim <rpluim <at> gmail.com>
To: "Yue Yi" <include_yy <at> qq.com>
Cc: 79845 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, Stefan Monnier <monnier <at> iro.umontreal.ca>
Subject: Re: bug#79845: 31.0.50; (key-binding (kbd "C-c ^")) get an empty
 sparse keymap
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:27:17 +0100

>>>>> On Sun, 16 Nov 2025 23:51:34 +0800, "Yue Yi" via "Bug reports for GNU Emacs, the Swiss army knife of text editors" <bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org> said:

    Yue> Hello Emacs maintainers,
    Yue> During a random key press, I noticed that C-c ^ did not explicitly
    Yue> display "xxx is undefined" in the echo area.  I was curious, so I
    Yue> evaluated the expression mentioned in the title (referring to the key
    Yue> binding for C-c ^) and got an empty keymap.

    Yue> (key-binding (kbd "C-c ^")) => (keymap)

    Yue> I did not observe this result in 30.2, where its value was the normal
    Yue> nil.  I am aware that this binding is `org-sort' under Org-mode, but the
    Yue> test environment I chose was fundamental-mode, and I launched Emacs
    Yue> using emacs -Q.

    Yue> I would like to ask if this is a new feature introduced in Emacs 31 or
    Yue> an inadvertently introduced key binding? (It's worth noting that C-h m
    Yue> does not show this binding in either 30.2 or 31.0.50).

This is the smerge prefix, for which a global binding was added to
avoid errors at the end of an smerge session. Perhaps we can enable it
only when smerge has actually been used? Given that the change came
from Stefan M, Iʼm sure that was considered. Stefan?

Robert
-- 

Message #11 received at 79845 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Stefan Monnier <monnier <at> iro.umontreal.ca>
To: Robert Pluim <rpluim <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 79845 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, Yue Yi <include_yy <at> qq.com>
Subject: Re: bug#79845: 31.0.50; (key-binding (kbd "C-c ^")) get an empty
 sparse keymap
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:55:34 -0500

> Given that the change came from Stefan M, Iʼm sure that was
> considered. Stefan?

Obviously, I did consider exhaustively every possible angle, but for the
usual security reasons, I also promptly threw away any information about
the alternatives, sorry.  🙂


        Stefan

Message #14 received at 79845 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Robert Pluim <rpluim <at> gmail.com>
To: Stefan Monnier <monnier <at> iro.umontreal.ca>
Cc: 79845 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, Yue Yi <include_yy <at> qq.com>
Subject: Re: bug#79845: 31.0.50; (key-binding (kbd "C-c ^")) get an empty
 sparse keymap
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2025 17:46:04 +0100

>>>>> On Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:55:34 -0500, Stefan Monnier <monnier <at> iro.umontreal.ca> said:

    >> Given that the change came from Stefan M, Iʼm sure that was
    >> considered. Stefan?

    Stefan> Obviously, I did consider exhaustively every possible angle, but for the
    Stefan> usual security reasons, I also promptly threw away any information about
    Stefan> the alternatives, sorry.  🙂

Iʼm sure that falls foul of some public record preservation law
somewhere 😉

Yue Yi, does this answer your question? Iʼm not sure itʼs worth the
effort to make any changes here.

Robert
-- 

Message #17 received at 79845 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: "Yue Yi" <include_yy <at> qq.com>
To: "Robert Pluim" <rpluim <at> gmail.com>,
 "Stefan Monnier" <monnier <at> iro.umontreal.ca>
Cc: 79845 <79845 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
Subject: Re: bug#79845: 31.0.50;
 (key-binding (kbd "C-c ^")) get an empty sparse keymap
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:11:27 +0800

Robert Pluim wrote,
> >>>>> On Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:55:34 -0500, Stefan Monnier <monnier <at> iro.umontreal.ca> said:
> 
>     >> Given that the change came from Stefan M, Iʼm sure that was
>     >> considered. Stefan?
> 
>     Stefan> Obviously, I did consider exhaustively every possible angle, but for the
>     Stefan> usual security reasons, I also promptly threw away any information about
>     Stefan> the alternatives, sorry.  🙂
> 
> Iʼm sure that falls foul of some public record preservation law
> somewhere 😉
> 
> Yue Yi, does this answer your question? Iʼm not sure itʼs worth the
> effort to make any changes here.

Thanks for the explanation. I understand the situation now.

Since this behavior is harmless, I agree that it is not worth the effort
to change. Please feel free to close this bug report.

Message #22 received at 79845-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Robert Pluim <rpluim <at> gmail.com>
To: "Yue Yi" <include_yy <at> qq.com>
Cc: 79845 <79845-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org>,
 Stefan Monnier <monnier <at> iro.umontreal.ca>
Subject: Re: bug#79845: 31.0.50;(key-binding (kbd "C-c ^")) get an empty
 sparse keymap
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:16:51 +0100

>>>>> On Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:11:27 +0800, "Yue Yi" <include_yy <at> qq.com> said:

    >> Yue Yi, does this answer your question? Iʼm not sure itʼs worth the
    >> effort to make any changes here.

    Yue> Thanks for the explanation. I understand the situation now.

    Yue> Since this behavior is harmless, I agree that it is not worth the effort
    Yue> to change. Please feel free to close this bug report.

Done with this message

Robert
-- 

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