tmux Basics

tmux_basics.md

tmux Basics

Installation

• https://github.com/tmux/tmux/wiki/Installing

Note

• In the official tmux documentation (man tmux), key C is Ctrl and M is Alt.
• Complete Getting Started Guide

Commands

These are run in the terminal outside tmux

Command	Description
tmux	Starts a tmux session
tmux new -s <SESSION NAME>	Starts a named tmux session
tmux ls	List all active tmux sessions
tmux kill -session -t <SESSION NAME>	Kill a tmux session
tmux attach <SESSION NUMBER>	Attach to session using session number
tmux attach -t <SESSION NAME>	Attach to a session using session name

General - Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Description
CTRL + B ?	Show all tmux shortcuts
CTRL + B w	Navigate / browse tmux sessions and windows
CTRL + B d	Detach from current session

Panes - Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Description
CTRL + B + <ARROW KEY>	Resize currently active pane
CTRL + B <ARROW KEY>	Switch active pane
CTRL + B %	Split current pane vertically
CTRL + B "	Split current pane horizontally
CTRL + B SPACEBAR	Switch current pane orientation
CTRL + B z	Full screen a pane

Window Control - Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Description
CTRL + B c	Create new window
tmux rename-window <NAME>	Rename the current window
CTRL + B w	List and choose specific window and pane
CTRL + B ,	Go to named window
CTRL + B n	Go to next window
CTRL + B p	Go to previous window

Copy/Paste - Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Description
CTRL + B [	Enter copy mode
CTRL + SPACEBAR	Select text in copy mode
ALT + W	Confirm text selection in copy mode (Will exit copy mode)
CTRL + c	Exit copy mode
CTRL + B ]	Paste copied text

Organization

These commands can be run within tmux

Shortcut	Description
tmux rename-session	Rename current session
tmux rename-window	Rename current window
tmux swap-window -s <WIN INDEX> -t <WIN INDEX>	Swap window positions
tmux move-window -s <SES>:<WIN> -t <SES>:<WIN>	Move a window to another session
tmux move-pane -s <SES>:<WIN> -t <SES>:<WIN>	Move a pane to another window

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Plugins and Configurations (~/.tmux.conf)

1. Add tmux configuration file .tmux.conf to home directory (ie. ~/.tmux.conf)

2. Install Tmux Package manager

   • Run in terminal:
     • git clone https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tpm ~/.tmux/plugins/tpm
   • Add at END of .tmux.conf:
     • set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tpm'
     • run '~/.tmux/plugins/tpm/tpm'

3. Add plugins into configuration file

   • Example: set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-resurrect' (Adding tmux-resurrect plugin)
   • Example: set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-yank' (Adding tmux-yank plugin)

4. Add configurations

   • Example: set -g mouse on (Turn on mouse mode)

5. After changing tmux.conf, still in tmux press CTRL + B I to refresh and install