Introduction to Tmux

tmux is pretty awesome, here is where I write about it.

John Holbrook from SOLUG (https://solug.org) recommended tmux after I was raving about screen. I thought screen was the greatest thing in the world and had no reason to search an alternative.
Now I don’t know how I ever lived without tmux.

What Is tmux?

Tmux is a software application that can be used to multiplex several virtual consoles, allowing a user to access multiple separate terminal sessions inside a single terminal window or remote terminal session.

From Wikipedia

Pronuciation: I have no definitive answer, half say “T-mucks” other half “tmox”.

Basic Use

Start tmux

In Ubuntu tmux is not installed by default but you can:

# Install tmux with apt-get:
sudo apt-get install -y tmux

# Alternativley install tmux with snap
sudo snap install tmux

# Start tmux
tmux

Start a new named session

tmux new -s sessionName

Attach to an existing session

If you just want to attach to the first session, no name or -t option is needed.

tmux a -t sessionName

Shortcut Use

Ctrl+b is the default shortcut for tmux

Detach the session

Ctrl+b d

Create new window

Ctrl+b c

Next window

(Ctrl+n)

Previous window

(Ctrl+b)

Rename Window

Ctrl+b ,

See keybindings

Ctrl+b ?

List Windows

Ctrl+b w

Close current window

Note the lack of Ctrl+b here.

Ctrl+d
or Ctrl+b &

Panes

Create Horizontal pane

Ctrl+b “

Create vertical pane

Ctrl+b %

Switch between panes

You can also use the arrow keys instead of o

Ctrl+b o

Close current pane

Ctrl+b x

Show pane number

Ctrl+b q

Distribute panes equally vertically

Ctrl+b, Alt+2

Distribute panes equally horizontally

Ctrl+b, Alt+1

Send Keys to all panes

Ctrl-B :
setw synchronize-panes on

References

• Cheat Sheet