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tmux

Terminal multiplexer for persistent sessions - split panes, detach/attach, essential for remote work

TL;DR

What: Terminal multiplexer for managing multiple terminal sessions.

Why: Persistent sessions, split panes, detach/attach, remote work essential.

Quick Start

Install:

# macOS
brew install tmux

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install tmux

# Start
tmux

Basic usage:

tmux new -s mysession   # New named session
tmux attach -t mysession # Attach to session
tmux ls                 # List sessions

Cheatsheet

All commands use prefix Ctrl+b first, then:

KeyAction
cNew window
n / pNext/previous window
%Split vertical
"Split horizontal
arrowMove between panes
dDetach session
xKill pane
zToggle pane zoom

Gotchas

Session management

# Create named session
tmux new -s dev

# Detach (inside tmux)
Ctrl+b d

# List sessions
tmux ls

# Attach to session
tmux attach -t dev

# Kill session
tmux kill-session -t dev

# Rename session
Ctrl+b $

Windows

# New window
Ctrl+b c

# Switch windows
Ctrl+b 0   # Window 0
Ctrl+b 1   # Window 1
Ctrl+b n   # Next
Ctrl+b p   # Previous

# Rename window
Ctrl+b ,

# Kill window
Ctrl+b &

# List windows
Ctrl+b w

Panes

# Split panes
Ctrl+b %   # Vertical
Ctrl+b "   # Horizontal

# Navigate panes
Ctrl+b arrow

# Resize panes
Ctrl+b Ctrl+arrow

# Zoom pane (toggle fullscreen)
Ctrl+b z

# Kill pane
Ctrl+b x

# Move pane
Ctrl+b {   # Move left
Ctrl+b }   # Move right

Configuration (~/.tmux.conf)

# Enable mouse
set -g mouse on

# Start windows at 1
set -g base-index 1
setw -g pane-base-index 1

# Better prefix
unbind C-b
set -g prefix C-a
bind C-a send-prefix

# Easy split keys
bind | split-window -h
bind - split-window -v

# Vim-style pane navigation
bind h select-pane -L
bind j select-pane -D
bind k select-pane -U
bind l select-pane -R

# Reload config
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display "Reloaded!"

# Status bar
set -g status-style bg=black,fg=white
set -g status-left "[#S] "

Copy mode

# Enter copy mode
Ctrl+b [

# Navigate (vim keys)
hjkl, Ctrl+u, Ctrl+d

# Start selection
Space

# Copy selection
Enter

# Paste
Ctrl+b ]

Next Steps