Tmux: A Practical Guide to Boosting Terminal Productivity

I just discovered Tmux and it has been a game-changer for my productivity. The ability to split my terminal into multiple panes has made it so much easier to work on multiple tasks at once. Plus, being able to detach and re-attach sessions means I never have to worry about losing my work if my connection drops. Highly recommend giving it a try!

Introduction

Tmux is a powerful tool that allows you to organize your terminal environment in ways you might not have thought possible. In this hands-on guide, we’ll dive into practical examples of how to use Tmux to optimize your terminal experience and take your productivity to new heights.

What is Tmux?

Tmux is a terminal multiplexer, this allows you to have multiple terminal commands and applications running side by side without the need to open multiple terminal emulator windows.

These multiple windows refer to as panes and these panes are maintained as a session. You can exit a session at any point. This is called detaching. Tmux ensures the session remains active until you deliberately shut down the Tmux server, and the beauty is that at any point in time, you can pick that session from where you left it by simply attaching it to that session.

Getting Started with Tmux

Before we jump into practical examples, let’s quickly cover the essentials of getting Tmux up and running:

Installation

Depending on your system, you can install Tmux using your package manager.

For instance, on Debian-based systems, you can use

sudo apt-get install tmux

For RedHat

sudo yum install tmux

and on macOS, you can use

brew install tmux

Starting a session

To create a new Tmux session, simply type tmux in your terminal. You’ll be greeted by a new terminal window with a status bar at the bottom.

>tmux

Commands

Tmux commands are preceded by a prefix key combination. By default, the prefix is Ctrl-b. Now, let’s dive into practical scenarios where Tmux shines:

Split the panes vertically

Ctrl-b %

Split the panes horizontally:

Ctrl-b "

Navigating Panes:

Press Ctrl-b arrow keys

List the sessions

tmux ls

Reattach to a session:

tmux attach-session -t session_name

Example for the above case

tmux attach -t 0

Note “0” indicates the first available session

Detach from a session:

Press Ctrl-b d

Closing Panes/Killing a Session

Either type exit or hit Ctrl-d

Note

Detach: The session will be maintained and attached when required
Closing Panes: It kills the session

Naming the session

tmux new -s backendmesh

Rename the session

 tmux rename-session my_session

Scrolling the screen

Ctrl-b [ 
Ctrl-b ]

Press q to quit scroll mode.

Resize a Pane

tmux resize-pane -D/U/L/R n

Note

n is the measurement unit
-D/U/L/R options stand for Down/Up/Left/Right.

Zoom a Pane

Ctrl-b z

As you delve deeper into the realm of Tmux, you’ll discover a treasure trove of commands and techniques waiting to be explored. From advanced session management to intricate customization, Tmux offers a plethora of possibilities for tailoring your terminal experience to perfection.

To continue your Tmux journey, here are some valuable resources to expand your knowledge:

Official Tmux Documentation: The official documentation is a comprehensive guide to Tmux’s features, commands, and configurations. It’s the go-to resource for both beginners and experienced users. You can find it at https://man.openbsd.org/tmux.
Tmux Cheat Sheet: You can find various Tmux cheat sheets online with a quick search. Visit https://gist.github.com/puneetverma24/cb0aec3af4c9d924726aed41c59f3a7e
Tmux GitHub Repository: Tmux is an open-source project with an active community on GitHub. You can explore the repository, contribute, and find discussions about Tmux usage and best practices. Visit https://github.com/tmux/tmux.
Tmuxinator: If you work on projects with specific layouts and configurations, Tmuxinator can save you time by automating session setup. Explore Tmuxinator at https://github.com/tmuxinator/tmuxinator.

Watch the video to see each step in action and gain a firsthand understanding of how to master Tmux for seamless terminal productivity.

Conclusion

Tmux isn’t just a tool; it’s a game-changer for optimizing your terminal workflow. By learning these practical examples and advanced techniques, you’re on your way to mastering Tmux and revolutionizing the way you work in the terminal. Whether you’re a developer, system administrator, or just a terminal enthusiast, Tmux has the potential to save you time and frustration while boosting your productivity. So, dive in, experiment, and make Tmux an integral part of your terminal toolkit. Your command-line experience will never be the same again.

Looking for more ways to enhance your terminal productivity? Check out our article on “Essential Terminal Commands“.