Tmux

Getting Started

tmux is a terminal multiplexer for Unix-like operating systems. It allows multiple terminal sessions to be accessed simultaneously in a single window. It is useful for running more than one command-line program at the same time. It can also be used to detach processes from their controlling terminals, allowing SSH sessions to remain active without being visible.

Installation

OSx

brew install tmux reattach-to-user-namespace

Enable Copy/Paste

iTerm2 > Preferences > General > Selection > Applications in terminal may access clipboard

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt install tmux xsel

Install TPM

git clone https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tpm ~/.tmux/plugins/tpm

Initial Configuration

Copy the following to ~/.tmux.conf

set -g mouse on

unbind-key C-b
unbind-key C-x
set-option -g prefix C-a
bind C-x setw synchronize-panes
bind-key h split-window -h
bind-key v split-window -v

set -g status-justify "centre"
set -g set-titles on
set -g base-index 1
set -g status-bg black
set -g status-fg white
setw -g automatic-rename on
setw -g window-status-current-format "#{?pane_synchronized,#[bg=red],#[fg=white, bg=blue]} #I #W #[fg=blue, bg=black]"

set -g @plugin "tmux-plugins/tpm"
set -g @plugin "tmux-plugins/tmux-sensible"
set -g @plugin "tmux-plugins/tmux-resurrect"
set -g @plugin "tmux-plugins/tmux-continuum"
set -g @plugin "tmux-plugins/tmux-yank"
set -g @yank_selection_mouse "clipboard"
set -g @resurrect-processes ":all:"
set -g @resurrect-capture-pane-contents "on"
run "~/.tmux/plugins/tpm/tpm"

Commands

tmux                          start a new session
tmux ls                       list all sessions
tmux a                        attach to an existing session
tmux a -t <name>              attach to a named session
tmux new -s <name>            start a new named session
tmux kill-session -t <name>   kill a named session
tmux kill-server              kill all sessions

Keyboard Shortcuts

The modifier prefix has been changed from the default ctrl-b to ctrl-a which is more convenient.

Use the modifier prefix ctrl-a with these keyboard shortcuts.

?             list shortcuts                         
R             reload the configuration               
I             install new pluginx                    
d             detach the session                     
h             split horizontally                     
v             split vertically                       
c             create a new window                    
p             switch to the previous window          
n             switch to the next window              
w             list the windows                       
1-9           switch to the window number            
,             rename the window                      
$             rename the session                     
ctrl-s        save the environment to the disk       
ctrl-r        restore the environment from the disk  
arrows        switch between panes                   
ctrl+arrows   resize pane                            
space         switch pane layout                     
z             maximize/minimize pane                 
ctrl-x        synchronize panes                     

Automation Example

tmux new-window -n status
tmux split-window -h
tmux select-pane -t 0
tmux send-keys "htop" C-m
tmux split-window -v
tmux select-pane -t 1
tmux send-keys "docker stats" C-m
tmux select-pane -t 2

Convenient Aliases

Copy the following to ~/.zshrc

alias t='tmux'
alias ts='tmux new -s'
alias tks='tmux kill-session -t'
alias tka='tmux kill-server'

Links

Find more ways to use Tmux - Awesome Tmux