Linux Learning Notes – tmux

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<span>tmux</span> (Terminal Multiplexer) is a terminal multiplexer that allows you to manage multiple terminal sessions within a single terminal window and reconnect to those sessions after disconnection.

1. Installing tmux

Most Linux distributions come with <span>tmux</span> pre-installed. If not, you can install it using the following commands:

  • Debian/Ubuntu:

    sudo apt install tmux

  • CentOS/RHEL:

    sudo yum install tmux

  • Fedora:

    sudo dnf install tmux

2. Basic Usage

1. Start a new session

tmux

2. Start a named session (recommended)

tmux new -s session_name

For example:

tmux new -s work

3. List all sessions

tmux ls

Output example:

0: 1 windows (created Tue Jun 10 10:00:00 2025)
work: 2 windows (created Tue Jun 10 10:05:00 2025)

4. Attach to a session

tmux attach -t session_name

For example:

tmux attach -t work

5. Detach from a session

Press the key combination in tmux:

Ctrl + b then d

6. End a session

Type in the tmux session:

exit

Or use the command to force end:

tmux kill-session -t session_name

3. Common Shortcuts (Prefix: <span>Ctrl + b</span>)

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All shortcut operations take effect after entering a tmux session.

Shortcut Function
<span>Ctrl + b c</span> Create a new window
<span>Ctrl + b n</span> Switch to the next window
<span>Ctrl + b p</span> Switch to the previous window
<span>Ctrl + b w</span> Show window list and switch
<span>Ctrl + b l</span> Switch to the last used window
<span>Ctrl + b ,</span> Rename the current window
<span>Ctrl + b %</span> Vertical split pane
<span>Ctrl + b "</span> (double quote) Horizontal split pane
<span>Ctrl + b o</span> Switch between panes
<span>Ctrl + b x</span> Close the current pane
<span>Ctrl + b [</span> Enter copy mode (scroll, select text)
<span>Ctrl + b :</span> Enter tmux command (e.g., <span>kill-session</span>)

4. Advanced Features

1. Shared sessions

tmux attach -t session_name

Multiple users can connect to the same session simultaneously, suitable for collaborative debugging.

2. Run tasks in the background and view logs

tmux new -d -s mytask 'ping google.com'

Then attach to view:

tmux attach -t mytask

3. Split screen operations

  • Vertical split:

    Ctrl + b %

  • Horizontal split:

    Ctrl + b "

  • Switch panes:

    Ctrl + b o

  • Resize panes (enter resize mode):

    Ctrl + b Alt + arrow keys

5. Configuration File (~/.tmux.conf)

You can customize <span>tmux</span> behavior by editing <span>~/.tmux.conf</span>. Here are some common configuration examples:

# Set prefix to Ctrl + a (instead of default Ctrl + b)
set-option -g prefix C-a
unbind C-b
bind C-a send-prefix

# Enable mouse support (requires tmux 2.1+)
set -g mouse on

# Set status bar colors
set -g status-bg black
set -g status-fg white

# Show window list
set -g status-left '#(whoami)@#H'

# Set window auto-naming
set-option -g allow-rename off

Load the configuration file:

tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf

6. Summary of Common Commands

Operation Command
List sessions <span>tmux ls</span>
Create session <span>tmux new -s session_name</span>
Attach to session <span>tmux attach -t session_name</span>
Force attach to session <span>tmux attach -t session_name -d</span>
Kill session <span>tmux kill-session -t session_name</span>
Rename session <span>tmux rename-session -t old_name new_name</span>
Send command to background session <span>tmux send-keys -t session_name 'your_command' Enter</span>

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How to exit copy mode?

A: Press the <span>q</span> key to exit.

Q: Encountering <span>no current session</span> error?

A: This means you are not executing commands within a tmux session, please enter a session first.

Q: How to set window title?

A: Add the following to <span>.tmux.conf</span>:

set-option -g set-titles on
set-option -g set-titles-string "#T"

8. Example Workflows

Example 1: Start a background task and view output

tmux new -d -s task 'ping baidu.com'
tmux attach -t task

Example 2: Create multiple windows and switch

tmux new -s demo
Ctrl + b c      # Create second window
Ctrl + b w      # View window list
Ctrl + b n/p    # Switch windows

✅ Tips

  • 💡 Using named sessions makes it easier to manage multiple tasks.
  • 💡 Mouse support (<span>mouse on</span>) allows easy clicking to switch panes.
  • 💡 Use <span>Ctrl + b [</span> to enter copy mode, press <span>Enter</span> to start selection, then press <span>Enter</span> again to copy.
  • 💡 Using a plugin system (like tpm) can extend functionality (like CPU monitoring, auto-completion, etc.).

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