tmux
Terminal multiplexing for sessions, windows, and panes.
Sessions
# New session
tmux new -s dev
tmux new-session -s dev
# Detach from session
# Prefix + d (Ctrl-b, then d)
# List sessions
tmux ls
tmux list-sessions
# Attach to session
tmux attach -t dev
tmux a -t dev
# Kill session
tmux kill-session -t dev
# Rename session
# Prefix + $
tmux rename-session -t old new
# Switch between sessions
# Prefix + s (session list)
# Prefix + ( (previous session)
# Prefix + ) (next session)
Windows (Tabs)
# Prefix = Ctrl-b (default)
# New window
# Prefix + c
# Switch windows
# Prefix + 0-9 (by number)
# Prefix + n (next)
# Prefix + p (previous)
# Prefix + w (window list)
# Prefix + l (last window)
# Rename window
# Prefix + ,
# Close window
# Prefix + &
# Or: exit
# Move window
# Prefix + . (move to number)
Panes (Splits)
# Split horizontal
# Prefix + "
# Split vertical
# Prefix + %
# Navigate panes
# Prefix + arrow keys
# Prefix + o (cycle)
# Prefix + q (show numbers, then press number)
# Resize panes
# Prefix + Ctrl-arrow (resize by 1)
# Prefix + Alt-arrow (resize by 5)
# Zoom pane (toggle fullscreen)
# Prefix + z
# Close pane
# Prefix + x
# Or: exit
# Convert pane to window
# Prefix + !
# Swap panes
# Prefix + { (swap with previous)
# Prefix + } (swap with next)
# Toggle layouts
# Prefix + Space
Copy Mode
# Enter copy mode
# Prefix + [
# Navigation (vi mode)
# h j k l - Move
# w b - Word forward/back
# / ? - Search forward/back
# n N - Next/prev search result
# g G - Top/bottom
# Selection (vi mode)
# Space - Start selection
# Enter - Copy and exit
# v - Toggle rectangle selection
# Paste
# Prefix + ]
# Enable vi mode in .tmux.conf:
# set-window-option -g mode-keys vi
Command Mode
# Enter command mode
# Prefix + :
# Common commands
:new-window -n "editor"
:split-window -h
:resize-pane -D 10
:swap-pane -D
:setw synchronize-panes on # Type in all panes
:setw synchronize-panes off
Scripting
#!/bin/bash
# dev-setup.sh - Create development workspace
SESSION="dev"
# Create session with first window
tmux new-session -d -s $SESSION -n "editor"
tmux send-keys -t $SESSION:editor "vim ." Enter
# Second window: server
tmux new-window -t $SESSION -n "server"
tmux send-keys -t $SESSION:server "npm run dev" Enter
# Third window: split for tests and logs
tmux new-window -t $SESSION -n "test"
tmux split-window -h -t $SESSION:test
tmux send-keys -t $SESSION:test.0 "npm test -- --watch" Enter
tmux send-keys -t $SESSION:test.1 "tail -f logs/app.log" Enter
# Fourth window: git
tmux new-window -t $SESSION -n "git"
tmux send-keys -t $SESSION:git "git status" Enter
# Focus first window
tmux select-window -t $SESSION:editor
# Attach
tmux attach -t $SESSION
.tmux.conf
# ~/.tmux.conf
# Change prefix to Ctrl-a
unbind C-b
set -g prefix C-a
bind C-a send-prefix
# Enable mouse
set -g mouse on
# Start windows at 1 (not 0)
set -g base-index 1
setw -g pane-base-index 1
# Vi mode
setw -g mode-keys vi
# Vi copy mode
bind -T copy-mode-vi v send -X begin-selection
bind -T copy-mode-vi y send -X copy-pipe-and-cancel "pbcopy"
# Better splits (use | and -)
bind | split-window -h -c "#{pane_current_path}"
bind - split-window -v -c "#{pane_current_path}"
# New window in current path
bind c new-window -c "#{pane_current_path}"
# Resize panes with vim keys
bind -r H resize-pane -L 5
bind -r J resize-pane -D 5
bind -r K resize-pane -U 5
bind -r L resize-pane -R 5
# Switch panes with vim keys
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=#333333 fg=#ffffff'
set -g status-left ' #S '
set -g status-right ' %H:%M '
# History limit
set -g history-limit 50000
# No delay for escape
set -sg escape-time 0
# 256 colors
set -g default-terminal "screen-256color"
set -ga terminal-overrides ",*256col*:Tc"
# Auto rename windows
setw -g automatic-rename on
set -g renumber-windows on
Quick Reference
Prefix = Ctrl-b (default) or Ctrl-a (if remapped)
Sessions: d=detach s=list $=rename (/)=prev/next
Windows: c=new ,=rename n/p=next/prev 0-9=switch &=kill
Panes: "=hsplit %=vsplit arrows=navigate z=zoom x=kill
Copy: [=enter Space=select Enter=copy ]=paste
Command: :=prompt
Reference
For .tmux.conf customization: references/config.md