Add a theme and minor mode for new users

* doc/emacs/custom.texi (Beginners Theme): Document new theme.
* etc/NEWS: Mention new theme.
* etc/themes/newcomers-presets-theme.el: New file including
new theme.

doc/emacs/custom.texi

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ Reference Manual}.
 * Init File::           How to write common customizations in the
                           initialization file.
 * Authentication::      Keeping persistent authentication information.
+* Newcomers Theme::     A theme that enables options for newcomers.
 
 @end menu
 
@@ -3230,3 +3231,22 @@ auth, Emacs auth-source}.
 configured backend, some of the backends offer to save it
 persistently.  This can be changed by customizing the user option
 @code{auth-source-save-behavior}.
+
+@node Newcomers Theme
+@section Newcomers Theme
+
+  The default appearance and behaviour of Emacs is traditionally
+conservative, not changing much between releases.  While each release
+brings more features, these are not enabled out of the box to not
+disrupt existing workflows.
+
+  As a remedy for new users who would like to enable a larger set of
+features in one fell swoop, the @code{newcomers-presets} theme
+(@pxref{Custom Themes}) sets a collection of users options considered to
+be too invasive by default, but useful for users acquainted with
+conventions from other programs trying to learn Emacs.
+
+  Keep in mind that the functionality enabled by this theme may change
+between releases, including adding new functionality that is expected to
+be of value for new users or removing old functionality that is regarded
+to be confusing or superseded.

etc/NEWS

@@ -3325,6 +3325,14 @@ If non-nil, FFAP always finds remote files in buffers with remote
 'default-directory'.  If nil, FFAP finds local files first for absolute
 file names in above buffers.  The default is nil.
 
++++
+*** New theme 'newcomers-presets'
+This new theme configures user options and minor modes that might
+interest new users, but would otherwise be too invasive to enable by
+default.  Recall that an Emacs theme is a generic collection of
+settings, that doesn't have to affect the appearance.  See the Info node
+"(emacs) Newcomers Theme" for more information.
+
 ** Edebug
 
 +++

etc/themes/newcomers-presets-theme.el

@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+;;; newcomers-presets-theme.el --- Theme of user options for newcomers  -*- lexical-binding:t -*-
+
+;; Copyright (C) 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+;; Author: Philip Kaludercic <philipk@posteo.net>
+
+;; This file is part of GNU Emacs.
+
+;; GNU Emacs is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+;; it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+;; the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+;; (at your option) any later version.
+
+;; GNU Emacs is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+;; but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+;; MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+;; GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+;; You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+;; along with GNU Emacs.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+;;; Commentary
+
+;; A theme that enables user options new users might be interested in.
+;; The guideline to enabling a feature is "would this interest someone
+;; who wouldn't even know that this option exists?".  Please avoid
+;; opinionated cosmetic changes, that is the job of regular/color-scheme
+;; themes.
+
+;;; Code:
+
+;; We define a `newcomers-presets-mode' that we can use to execute custom code
+;; that we cannot express by setting existing users options.
+
+(defvar newcomers-presets-mode-enabled-local-modes
+  '((prog-mode-hook . display-line-numbers-mode)
+    (prog-mode-hook . flymake-mode)
+    (prog-mode-hook . flyspell-prog-mode)
+
+    (text-mode-hook . display-line-numbers-mode)
+    (text-mode-hook . flyspell-mode)
+    )
+  "Alist mapping hooks to functions.
+The functions are added to the corresponding hooks when enabling
+`newcomers-presets-mode', and removed when disabling the mode.")
+
+(defconst newcomers-presets--dnt-prop
+  (make-symbol "newcomers-presets-no-not-touch")
+  "A fresh constant to use as a symbol property.
+The symbol property is used by `newcomers-presets-mode'")
+
+;;;###autoload
+(define-minor-mode newcomers-presets-mode
+  "A minor mode associated with the `newcomers-presets' theme.
+This minor mode will enable and disable the theme on startup."
+  :global t
+  (cl-letf (((symbol-function 'newcomers-presets-mode)
+             ;; As the theme enables/disables this mode we have to
+             ;; prevent in indefinite mutual recursion to allow
+             ;; `newcomers-presets-mode' to enable the `newcomers-presets' theme and
+             ;; vice versa.
+             #'ignore))
+    (if newcomers-presets-mode
+        (enable-theme 'newcomers-presets)
+      (disable-theme 'newcomers-presets)))
+  ;; TODO: extend `custom-theme-set-variables' to support function local
+  ;; hooks.
+  (pcase-dolist (`(,hook . ,fn) newcomers-presets-mode-enabled-local-modes)
+    (cond
+     (newcomers-presets-mode
+      ;; We check if a function is already in the hook, to avoid
+      ;; removing it later if the user disables the theme.
+      (when (run-hook-wrapped hook (lambda (ent &rest _) (eq fn ent)))
+        (push fn (get hook newcomers-presets--dnt-prop)))
+      (add-hook hook fn))
+     (t
+      (unless (memq fn (get hook newcomers-presets--dnt-prop))
+        (remove-hook hook fn))
+      (put hook newcomers-presets--dnt-prop '())))))
+
+;;;###theme-autoload
+(deftheme newcomers-presets
+  "Theme of user options settings interesting for newcomers."
+  :kind 'user-options)
+
+(custom-theme-set-variables
+ 'newcomers-presets
+
+ '(newcomers-presets-mode t)
+
+;;;; Appearance-related options
+ '(font-use-system-font t)
+ '(frame-resize-pixelwise t)
+ '(window-resize-pixelwise t)
+
+;;;; Mouse-related options
+ '(context-menu-mode t)
+ '(save-interprogram-paste-before-kill t)
+ '(mouse-yank-at-point t)
+ '(pixel-scroll-mode t)
+ ;; '(pixel-scroll-precision-mode t) ;; see bug#69972
+ '(mouse-drag-and-drop-region t)
+ '(mouse-drag-and-drop-region-cross-program t)
+ '(mouse-drag-mode-line-buffer t)
+
+;;;; Persistence-related options
+ '(savehist-mode t)
+ '(save-place-mode t)
+ '(recentf-mode t)
+
+;;;; Editing-related options
+ '(electric-pair-mode t)
+ '(repeat-mode t)
+ '(delete-selection-mode t)
+ '(editorconfig-mode t)
+
+;;;; Directory managment-related options
+ '(dired-auto-revert-buffer t)
+ '(dired-mouse-drag-files t)
+
+;;;; File-related options
+ '(vc-auto-revert-mode t)
+
+;;;; Completion-related options
+ '(minibuffer-visible-completions t)
+ '(completions-detailed t)
+ '(completions-group t)
+ '(completion-auto-select 'second-tab)
+ '(completion-eager-update t)
+ '(completion-styles '(basic emacs22 flex))
+ '(global-completion-preview-mode t)
+ '(tab-always-indent 'complete)
+ '(which-key-mode t)
+
+;;;; Package-related options
+ '(package-autosuggest-mode t)
+ '(package-menu-use-current-if-no-marks nil)
+
+ )
+
+(provide-theme 'newcomers-presets)
+;;; newcomers-presets-theme.el ends here

lisp/startup.el

@@ -2158,6 +2158,38 @@ a face or button specification."
    :face 'variable-pitch "To quit a partially entered command, type "
    :face 'default "Control-g"
    :face 'variable-pitch ".\n")
+
+  (fancy-splash-insert
+   :face '(variable-pitch (:height 0.8))
+   "Enable "
+   :link `("newcomer-friendly"
+	   ,(lambda (_button) (info "(emacs) Newcomers Theme")))
+   " options:  ")
+
+  (let ((checked (create-image "checked.xpm"
+			       nil nil :ascent 'center))
+	(unchecked (create-image "unchecked.xpm"
+				 nil nil :ascent 'center))
+        (enabled (custom-theme-enabled-p 'newcomers-presets)))
+    (insert-button
+     " "
+     :on-glyph checked
+     :off-glyph unchecked
+     'checked enabled
+     'display (if enabled checked unchecked)
+     'follow-link t
+     'action (lambda (button)
+	       (if (overlay-get button 'checked)
+		   (progn (overlay-put button 'checked nil)
+			  (overlay-put button 'display
+				       (overlay-get button :off-glyph))
+			  (disable-theme 'newcomers-presets))
+		 (overlay-put button 'checked t)
+		 (overlay-put button 'display
+			      (overlay-get button :on-glyph))
+		 (load-theme 'newcomers-presets)))))
+  (fancy-splash-insert :face 'variable-pitch "\n")
+
   (save-restriction
     (narrow-to-region (point) (point))
     (fancy-splash-insert :face '(variable-pitch font-lock-builtin-face)