tmux – terminal multiplexer

SYNOPSIS

Shell Commands

• start a new session: tmux
• start a new named session, e.g. tmux new -s mynewsession
• list sessions: tmux ls
• attach to a session by number, e.g. tmux at 0
• attach to a session by name, e.g. tmux at -t somename
• kill a session by name, e.g. tmux kill-session -t somename

Key Bindings

The default command key prefix is C-b. Note it conflicts with any Emacs-style bindings.

• s list/switch sessions
• $ name session
• c new window
• , name window
• f find window
• & kill window
• % split window vertically (columns)
• " split window horizontally (rows)

DESCRIPTION

tmux:

• is a terminal multiplexer
• eliminates the need for multiple terminal windows
• lets you switch easily between several programs in one terminal
• lets you detach programs and keep them running in the background
• lets you reattach programs to a different terminal
• works well with emacs and vi

There are three ways to interact with tmux:

• from the shell using tmux
• through the tmux console
• through key bindings

Shell Interactions

• start a new session: tmux
• start a new named session, e.g. tmux new -s mynewsession
• list sessions: tmux ls
• attach to a session by number, e.g. tmux at 0
• attach to a session by name, e.g. tmux at -t somename
• kill a session by name, e.g. tmux kill-session -t somename

There are three layers of organization in tmux:

• sessions
• windows (tabs)
• panes (splits)

Session Interactions

• :new new session
• s list sessions
• $ name session

Window Interactions

Keybindings:

• c new window
• , name window
• f find window
• & kill window

Tips

Mac OS X has some problems with copying and pasting. See Notes and workarounds for accessing the Mac OS X pasteboard in tmux sessions.

References

tmux cheatsheet

tmux man page

tmux Tutorial - Split Terminal Windows Easily