Follow-up Comment #7, bug #49883 (project screen): I tested again. "altscreen on" really (something like) ignored now.
Steps I used. My host system is debian stretch. I run this command (to create chroot environment with another debian stretch in it): $ sudo debootstrap --variant=minbase stretch /tmp/s http://ftp.debian.org/debian Then, in newly created system: # apt-get install mc # apt-get install gcc make git # git clone https://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/screen.git # commit a48e1f96dc329cd0fc28ed91890dd19f4d12a47c # cd screen # cd src # apt-get install automake autoconf # ./autogen.sh # apt-get install libc6-dev # apt-get install libncurses5-dev # ./configure --prefix=/opt/screen-2017-04-11 # make # make install # apt-get install systemd-sysv systemd # passwd -d root Then, at host we boot this chroot environment using systemd-nspawn: $ sudo systemd-nspawn -bD /tmp/s Then, in newly booted container: # mcedit ~/.screenrc # cat ~/.screenrc altscreen on startup_message off # /opt/screen-2017-04-11/bin/screen Then I see "startup_message off" took effect (so, screen uses this config), but "altscreen on" is ignored. If you want, I can send you this chroot environment. --- Also, I just noticed this: your example works. I. e. if I run big "ls" and then "mc", then "altscreen" works. But if I type "mc" as first in command in screen, then "altscreen" doesn't work (unlike stretch's version, i. e. "Screen version 4.04.00 (GNU) 19-Jun-16") _______________________________________________________ Reply to this item at: <http://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?49883> _______________________________________________ Message sent via/by Savannah http://savannah.gnu.org/