Tmux Cheatsheet

Basic Commands

Session Management

• tmux new -s <name> - Create a new session with name
• tmux ls - List all sessions
• tmux attach -t <name> - Attach to a session
• tmux kill-session -t <name> - Kill a session
• tmux rename-session -t <old-name> <new-name> - Rename a session

Key Bindings

All commands are prefixed with the key combination Ctrl+b (default prefix)

Windows (tabs)

• <prefix> c - Create a new window
• <prefix> , - Rename the current window
• <prefix> n - Move to the next window
• <prefix> p - Move to the previous window
• <prefix> <number> - Switch to window number
• <prefix> w - List all windows
• <prefix> & - Kill the current window

Panes (splits)

• <prefix> % - Split pane horizontally
• <prefix> " - Split pane vertically
• <prefix> arrow key - Switch to pane in the specified direction
• <prefix> z - Toggle pane zoom
• <prefix> x - Kill the current pane
• <prefix> q - Show pane numbers
• <prefix> } - Swap with the next pane
• <prefix> { - Swap with the previous pane
• <prefix> <space> - Cycle through pane layouts

Resizing Panes

• <prefix> Ctrl+arrow key - Resize the current pane
• <prefix> Alt+arrow key - Resize the current pane in smaller increments

Synchronizing Panes

• :setw synchronize-panes on - Turn synchronize-panes on
• :setw synchronize-panes off - Turn synchronize-panes off

Copy Mode

• <prefix> [ - Enter copy mode
• <prefix> ] - Paste from buffer
• In copy mode:
  • <space> - Start selection
  • <enter> - Copy selection
  • q - Quit copy mode

Customization

Configuration File

The tmux configuration file is located at ~/.tmux.conf. Here are some common customizations:

# Change the prefix key
unbind C-b
set-option -g prefix C-a
bind-key C-a send-prefix

# Enable mouse mode
set -g mouse on

# Start window numbering at 1
set -g base-index 1

# Start pane numbering at 1
setw -g pane-base-index 1

# Reload config file
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display "Reloaded!"

# Split panes using | and -
bind | split-window -h
bind - split-window -v
unbind '"'
unbind %

# Switch panes using Alt-arrow without prefix
bind -n M-Left select-pane -L
bind -n M-Right select-pane -R
bind -n M-Up select-pane -U
bind -n M-Down select-pane -D

# Status bar customization
set -g status-style bg=black,fg=white
set -g window-status-current-style bg=white,fg=black,bold

Color Schemes

Add to ~/.tmux.conf:

# Set terminal color
set -g default-terminal "screen-256color"

# Theme settings
set -g status-bg colour235
set -g status-fg colour136
set -g window-status-current-style fg=colour166,bg=default,bright

Recommended Plugins

Tmux has a plugin manager called TPM (Tmux Plugin Manager). Here’s how to install and use it:

1. Install TPM:

git clone https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tpm ~/.tmux/plugins/tpm

2. Add to ~/.tmux.conf:

# List of plugins
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tpm'
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-sensible'

# Initialize TMUX plugin manager (keep this line at the very bottom of tmux.conf)
run '~/.tmux/plugins/tpm/tpm'

Useful Plugins

• tmux-plugins/tmux-resurrect - Restore tmux sessions after system restart
• tmux-plugins/tmux-continuum - Automatic saving of tmux environment
• tmux-plugins/tmux-copycat - Enhanced copy mode with regex search
• tmux-plugins/tmux-yank - Copy to system clipboard
• tmux-plugins/tmux-open - Open highlighted text in app
• tmux-plugins/tmux-sidebar - Directory tree sidebar
• christoomey/vim-tmux-navigator - Seamless navigation between tmux panes and vim splits

Integrations

Vim Integration

• Install the vim plugin vim-tmux-navigator for seamless navigation
• Add to your .vimrc:

" Smart pane switching with awareness of Vim splits
Plug 'christoomey/vim-tmux-navigator'

Shell Integration

Add to your .bashrc or .zshrc:

# Aliases for tmux
alias ta='tmux attach -t'
alias tl='tmux list-sessions'
alias tn='tmux new-session -s'

Status Line Integration

• wfxr/tmux-power - Powerline-like status bar
• erikw/tmux-powerline - Advanced powerline status bar

Common Workflows

1. Development Environment:

   # Start a new session named 'dev'
   tmux new -s dev
   
   # Split into code and terminal panes
   <prefix> %
   
   # In one pane, start your editor
   vim app.js
   
   # In the other pane, run your server/tests
   npm start

2. Multiple Projects:

   # Create a session for each project
   tmux new -s project1 -d
   tmux new -s project2 -d
   
   # Attach to one
   tmux attach -t project1
   
   # Switch sessions without detaching
   <prefix> s (then select)

3. Server Monitoring:

   # Create a new session
   tmux new -s monitor
   
   # Create multiple panes for different stats
   <prefix> %
   <prefix> "
   
   # Run monitoring tools in each
   htop
   watch df -h
   tail -f /var/log/syslog
   
   # Turn on synchronize-panes to issue commands to all panes
   <prefix> : setw synchronize-panes on