tmux

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name: tmux description: Manage tmux sessions, windows, and panes for terminal multiplexing. Use when running long processes, managing multiple terminals, or executing commands in background sessions. compatibility: opencode metadata: workflow: terminal

What I do

• Create and manage tmux sessions for background processes
• Execute commands in persistent terminal sessions
• Capture output from running processes
• Manage parallel terminal workspaces

When to use me

Use this when running long-running processes, managing multiple terminals, or executing commands that need to persist beyond the current session.

Session Management

Check Existing Sessions First

Always check before creating new sessions:

Copytmux list-sessions 2>/dev/null || echo "No sessions"

Create or Attach

Copy# Create new session
tmux new-session -d -s "session-name"

# Attach to existing
tmux attach-session -t "session-name"

# Create if not exists, attach if exists
tmux new-session -A -s "session-name"

Executing Commands

Run Command in Session

Copy# Send command to session
tmux send-keys -t "session-name" "your-command" Enter

# Send to specific window
tmux send-keys -t "session-name:window-name" "command" Enter

# Send to specific pane
tmux send-keys -t "session-name:0.0" "command" Enter

Capture Output

Copy# Capture pane contents
tmux capture-pane -t "session-name" -p

# Capture with history (last 1000 lines)
tmux capture-pane -t "session-name" -p -S -1000

Window and Pane Management

Copy# New window in session
tmux new-window -t "session-name" -n "window-name"

# Split pane horizontally
tmux split-window -h -t "session-name"

# Split pane vertically
tmux split-window -v -t "session-name"

# List windows
tmux list-windows -t "session-name"

# List panes
tmux list-panes -t "session-name"

Common Patterns

Background Process

Copy# Start process in background session
tmux new-session -d -s "build" && \
tmux send-keys -t "build" "npm run build" Enter

Check Process Status

Copy# Capture output to see if process completed
tmux capture-pane -t "build" -p | tail -20

Cleanup

Copy# Kill specific session
tmux kill-session -t "session-name"

# Kill all sessions
tmux kill-server

Best Practices

1. Name sessions descriptively: Use meaningful names like dev, build, logs
2. Check before creating: Always verify session doesn't exist first
3. Capture output: Use capture-pane to verify command results
4. Clean up: Kill sessions when work is complete
5. Chain commands: Use && to ensure proper sequencing