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