Tmux Quick Reference

Tmux is a terminal multiplexer. But every terminal into Tmux is pseudo-terminal.

Basic conceptions

All configuration can be modified into ~/.tmux.conf. For newer edition, it can be put into ~/.config/tmux/.

Server
│
├── Session
│     ├── Window
│     │      ├── Pane
│     │      └── Pane
│     │
│     └── Window
│
└── Session

Server: A Tmux service for managing all sessions into it. Type tmux enable the service and run it.
Session: A whole and complete working environment. Sessions are completely independent of each other. Keywords: create/ detach/ attach.
Window: windows are working under sessions. It is similar to the web browser’s tab.
Pane: Split one window into differnet parts.

Official Structure

https://github.com/tmux/tmux/wiki/Getting-Started

All commands must use prefix + specific character. Ctrl + b is the common prefix in every system. Use C-b or P for short.

Status Line

https://github.com/tmux/tmux/wiki/Getting-Started

Sessions

tmux new-sesson
tmux new                #create a session with default name 0

tmux new -s work        # new named session -s: specified
tmux ls                 # list sessions

tmux a
tmux attach             # attach to the most recently used sessioin
tmux attach -t work     # reattach to the session named work
tmux kill-session -t work
tmux rename-window work # rename the current window

Keys	Action
`P $`	rename the current session

Detach from inside: P d.

Window

Create

Create a window must in a specific session

tmux new-window 
tmux neww               #create a new window 

tmux neww -d            # create a new window but doesn't make it the current window
tmux neww -n windowname # create a new window named windowname
tmux neww -t 999        #create a new window with index 999

Operations

Keys	Action
`P &`	kill the current window

Panes

Keys	Action
`prefix %`	split vertically (left and right)
`prefix "`	split horizontally (up and down)
`prefix arrow`	move between panes
`prefix z`	zoom / unzoom current pane
`prefix x`	kill pane
`P *`	create a floating pane
`P @`	change the current pane to the floating pane
`P up/down/left/right`	move focus to other pane
`P m`	mark the pane for swap
`P {` or `P }`	rotate the pane/swap
`P space`	modify the layout

tmux swap-pane      #swap the current pane with marked one

Choosing sessions, windows and panes

Keys	Action
`P s`	show the list of sessions into tree architecture
`P w`	extend all contents into session list
`x`	works in the tree view. Killing target window

Copy mode

prefix [ to enter, q to quit. Vi keys if setw -g mode-keys vi.

Why bother

SSH into the lab box, start a long experiment inside tmux, close the laptop, reattach from anywhere. The experiment never notices.