GNU Emacs 31.1 adds terminal mouse support enabled by default and new theme for newcomers

GNU Emacs 31.1 has been released, bringing a range of changes for both long-time users and newcomers to the popular open source text editor. The update now enables terminal mouse control by default, letting users interact more fluidly with their Emacs environments when running in terminal sessions.

Following these core interaction improvements, Emacs 31.1 adds a new user-lisp/ subdirectory inside the configuration directory, streamlining the management of custom scripts. It also introduces support for child frames within text frames, which expands possibilities for UI customization and extension.

Building on the workflow enhancements, the Completions buffer has received several updates to refine the user experience. Commands for splitting windows now select split direction more intelligently, and both the grep and xref buffers support editable modes, giving users more flexibility during searches and code navigation.

Alongside these core updates, the release helps users manage software more securely by allowing review of package changes before installation or upgrade. To support newer users, a new Emacs theme has been included that aims to make the interface more welcoming and accessible.