tmux

tmux#

tmux is the terminal multiplexer the operator runs to detach long sessions from the controlling terminal. Engagements survive disconnects, the operator’s panel layout follows them across hosts, and a single tmux a reattaches to whatever the last session was. The default prefix is Ctrl-b; many operators rebind it to Ctrl-a for the screen muscle-memory.

Sessions#

A session holds windows; a window holds panes. The session is the unit the operator detaches and reattaches.

$ tmux                                     # new unnamed session
$ tmux new -s engagement                   # new named session
$ tmux new -s engagement -n recon          # new session, first window named
$ tmux ls                                  # list sessions
$ tmux a                                   # attach to the last session
$ tmux a -t engagement                     # attach to a named session
$ tmux kill-session -t engagement          # kill one session
$ tmux kill-session -a                     # kill all sessions but the current
$ tmux kill-server                         # nuke the server and everything in it

Inside it#

Every binding below assumes Ctrl-b as the prefix. Letters after the prefix are typed without modifiers (Ctrl-b then d, not Ctrl-b Ctrl-d).

Binding

Action

d

Detach from the session (leaves it running).

$

Rename the current session.

s

Pick another session interactively.

c

Create a new window.

,

Rename the current window.

&

Close the current window.

p / n

Previous / next window.

0 – 9

Jump to a window by number.

% / "

Split the current pane vertically / horizontally.

o

Cycle to the next pane.

;

Toggle between the current and last-active pane.

Space

Cycle through pane layouts.

z

Toggle pane zoom (fullscreen-in-window).

x

Close the current pane.

q

Briefly show pane numbers (then a digit jumps to one).

Power use#

# In a running session, drop to the command prompt with prefix ":"
#   : setw synchronize-panes        # broadcast keystrokes to every pane
#   : swap-window -s 2 -t 1         # reorder windows
#   : set -g mouse on               # enable mouse selection / resize
#   : set -g history-limit 50000    # bigger scrollback per pane

# Outside a session
$ tmux info                         # everything the server knows
$ tmux capture-pane -p -S -          # dump full scrollback of current pane to stdout

References#

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