What is the recommended way to unbind `;` in `haskell-indentation-mode-map`

[mrkkrp]

I have my own minor mode that binds ;. haskell-indentation is very agressive in binding that key as well. I tried various methods, but only this allows to tame ;:

(defun mk-purge-that-nice-thing ()
  (define-key haskell-indentation-mode-map (kbd ";") nil))

(add-hook 'haskell-indentation-mode-hook #'mk-purge-that-nice-thing)

Variations like this do not work:

(eval-after-load 'haskell-mode
  '(setq-default haskell-indentation-mode-map (make-sparse-keymap)))

Is there some option to forbid haskell-indentation-mode bind anything?

[fice-t]

It's a bit surprising that just setting the map to nil or a blank keymap doesn't do what you want (though it makes sense). Even if it did, I think you'd have to eval-after-load 'haskell-indentation for it to work.

Try this:

(with-eval-after-load 'haskell-indentation
  (setq minor-mode-map-alist (assq-delete-all 'haskell-indentation-mode minor-mode-map-alist)))

Just setting the variable to a blank keymap doesn't work at Emacs doesn't check that variable, but the keymap it usually points to (the one in that alist) for the keybindings.

Edit: Something shorter:

(eval-after-load 'haskell-indentation
  '(setcdr haskell-indentation-mode-map nil))

[gracjan]

What is the problem with ;?

[mrkkrp]

I bind it to other things.

[gracjan]

A semicolon? What other things? And how do you put a semicolon in?

[mrkkrp]

Do not underestimate weirdness of Emacs users :-D I use Modalka for custom modal editing. When it's active, it binds ;, it gets translated to C-;, which is in turn activates my custom function for correction of misspellings. Quite handy, especially on Dvorak keyboard where ; does not occupy such prominent position on home row.

I know a person that uses QWERTY, and he binds ; to work as ↵ Enter if I remember correctly (makes sense, it's on home row). Emacs encourages this sort of thing, so I would be very careful binding things like ;, unless it's custom non-editing environment like Magit or MU4E.

Binding ; is not usually a problem because Modalka is a minor mode too and it usually takes precedence, but this time haskell-indentation-mode was very perisisent.

How do I put semicolon in? Well, when I need to input text, I switch off Modalka (in Vim terms go into insert mode) and I can type normally.

Furthermore, I use Enter to toggle the modalka-mode (instead of entering new line, I enter them as RET m RET typically), and I have a good number of keys in non-standard positions.

I can type all day long without even sign of strain in my hands or something. I think it's worth it.

[fice-t]

There's minor-mode-overriding-map-alist if you want your particular minor mode to override others. That and the above solution should work for everyone.

Though perhaps Haskell mode could put the indentation keybindings in haskell-mode-map instead of using minor modes? So instead of turning on/off individual keymaps it would modify the major mode map directly. Not sure if it's worth it.

[gracjan]

@fice-t: Indentation keybindings stay in indentation.