---
category: tool
tool: tmux
contributors:
- ["kaernyk", "http://github.com/kaernyk"]
filename: LearnTmux.txt
---
tmux is a terminal multiplexer: it enables a number of terminals to be
created, accessed, and controlled from a single screen. tmux may be detached
from a screen and continue running in the background, then later reattached.
```bash
# We’ll start off with managing tmux from a terminal:
tmux | tmux new # Create an unamed session
-s "Session" # Create named session
-n "Window" # Create named Window
-c "/dir" # Start in target directory
tmux attach # Attach last/available session
-t "#" # Attach target session
-d # Detach the session from other instances
tmux ls # List open sessions
kill-session # Kill current session
-t "#" # Kill target session
-a # Kill all sessions
-a -t "#" # Kill all sessions but the target
## Key Bindings
# The method of controlling an attached tmux session is fairly simple, but
# there are two keys we will see repeated throughout this write-up (as well as
# the man pages).
(C-b) == Ctrl + b
# This combination is the default prefix key that is to be used in conjunction
# with a keybind to produce the stated effect.
# The default keybinds are as follows:
C-b # Send the prefix key (C-b) through to the application.
C-o # Rotate the panes in the current window forwards.
C-z # Suspend the tmux client.
? # List all key bindings.
: # Enter the tmux command prompt.
r # Force redraw of the attached client.
c # Create a new window.
$ # Rename the current session.
, # Rename the current window.
! # Break the current pane out of the window.
% # Split the current pane into two, left and right.
" # Split the current pane into two, top and bottom.
n # Change to the next window.
p # Change to the previous window.
{ # Swap the current pane with the previous pane.
} # Swap the current pane with the next pane.
s # Select a new session for the attached client interactively.
w # Choose the current window interactively.
0 to 9 # Select windows 0 to 9.
d # Detach the current client.
D # Choose a client to detach.
& # Kill the current window.
x # Kill the current pane.
Up, Down # Change to the pane above, below, left, or right.
Left, Right
M-1 to M-5 # Arrange panes:
# 1) even-horizontal
# 2) even-vertical
# 3) main-horizontal
# 4) main-vertical
# 5) tiled.
C-Up, C-Down # Resize the current pane in steps of one cell.
C-Left, C-Right
M-Up, M-Down # Resize the current pane in steps of five cells.
M-Left, M-Right
```
### Configuring ~/.tmux.conf
tmux.conf can be used to set options automatically on start up, much
like how .vimrc or init.el are used.
```bash
# Example tmux.conf
# 2014.9
### Keybinds
###########################################################################
## Prefix Adjustment
# Unbind C-b as the default prefix
unbind-key C-b
# Set ` as the default prefix
set-option -g prefix `
#set option -g prefix C-a
# Return to previous window when prefix is pressed twice
bind-key C-a last-window
bind-key ` last-window
bind-key a send-prefix
# Allow swapping C-a and ` using F11/F12
bind-key F11 set-option -g prefix C-a
bind-key F12 set-option -g prefix `
## Index Start
set -g base-index 1
## Window Cycle/Swap
bind e previous-window
bind f next-window
bind E swap-window -t -1
bind F swap-window -t +1
### Theme
###########################################################################
## Statusbar Color Palatte
#set-option -g status-justify centre
set-option -g status-justify left
set-option -g status-bg black
set-option -g status-fg white
set-option -g status-left-length 40
set-option -g status-right-length 80
## Pane Border Color Palette
set-option -g pane-active-border-fg green
set-option -g pane-active-border-bg black
set-option -g pane-border-fg white
set-option -g pane-border-bg black
## Message Color Palette
set-option -g message-fg black
set-option -g message-bg green
#setw -g mode-bg black
## Window Status Color Palette
setw -g window-status-bg black
setw -g window-status-current-fg green
setw -g window-status-bell-attr default
setw -g window-status-bell-fg red
setw -g window-status-content-attr default
setw -g window-status-content-fg yellow
setw -g window-status-activity-attr default
setw -g window-status-activity-fg yellow
### UI
###########################################################################
## Window Interface Adjustments
set-option -g status-utf8 on
setw -g mode-keys vi
setw -g mode-mouse on
setw -g monitor-activity on
set-option -g mouse-select-pane on
set-option -g status-keys vi
set-option -g bell-action any
set-option -g set-titles on
set-option -g set-titles-string '#H:#S.#I.#P #W #T' # window number,program name,active (or not)
set-option -g visual-bell off
## Statusbar Adjustments
set -g status-left ' #[fg=red]#H#[fg=green]:#[fg=white]#S #[fg=green]][#[default] '
set -g status-interval 5
#set -g status-right ' #[fg=green]][#[fg=white] #T #[fg=green]][ #[fg=blue]%Y-%m-%d #[fg=white]%H:%M#[default] '
## Show performance counters in statusbar
#set -g status-right ' #[fg=green]][#[fg=white] #(tmux-mem-cpu-load 5 4) #[fg=green]][ #[fg=yellow]%H:%M#[default] '
### Misc
###########################################################################
set -g history-limit 4096
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf
```
### External Resources
Tmux | Home
Manual page
Display CPU/MEM % in statusbar
Archlinux Wiki
Gentoo Wiki