<AWT Dev> [13] JDK-8218917: KeyEvent.getModifiers() returns inconsistent values for ALT keys

[Philip Race]

The debate is about AltGraph which an ancient MS-DOSism for
asking for an ALTernate GRAPHics bitmap font - all pre-dates windows
and I am sure has never been applicable to any MacOS.

So someone needs to properly explain why we would claim a Mac keyboard
is OK to generate a keycode it doesn't have and cause a slew of regressions
in the process ...

If Mac doesn't distinguish these two, we should generate the same 
keycode for both.
One could suppose there is a difference else why two keys, but what is 
the right
thing to do here  that fixes all the problems. What exactly WAS the problem
with what was there in the first place ? And if changing it is correct 
why is it
causing regressions ?

-phil.



On 3/12/19, 5:34 AM, Sergey Bylokhov wrote:
> Hi, Phil.
> On 11/03/2019 07:43, Philip Race wrote:
>> The reasoning that AltGraph might be useful to someone is a bit weak
>> and I don't think I'd want to support it via system property or build 
>> options.
>>
>> If its not a platform keyboard key, why do we need it ?
>
> The "AltGraph" key is also commonly referred to as "Right Alt", and
> it has been implemented on all platforms as a "Right Alt", it is 
> convenient to
> distinguish the left/right alts.
>