tmux - Terminal Multiplexer

Mark Volkmannmark@ociweb.com

tmux

Overview

Dramatically expands what can be donewith terminal windowsAlternative to older program named “screen”Often used for interactive server sessions

that can survive network disconnections

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Book

tmux: Productive Mouse-Free DevelopmentBrian P. Hogan

Pragmatic Programmers

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For You?

Do you work in a Unixey environment?Do you frequently use terminal windows?Do you value using keyboard shortcuts?

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tmux Commands

Large number of themMany ways to execute

command-line

shell script

command mode in tmux client

keyboard shortcut in tmux client

tmux configuration file

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Key Bindings

Prefix keyC-b by default; many change to C-a

Meta keyabbreviated as M; cmd-option on Mac

Commandslist-keys or prefix ?

bind-key [-r] {key} {command}

-r allows repeated used without prefix

unbind-key {key}

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Terminology

serverclientsessionwindowpanestatus bar

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Sample Session

Demo time!

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Session Actions

newdetachattachlistrenameswitch - one being displayedkill

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Window Actions

newrenameswitch - one being viewedlistmove - to a different sessionkill

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Pane Actions

new - via splitswitch - one that is activechange layoutresizerotate - to change position of allswap - to change position of twomove - to different windowexecute command - from a script into a specific panekill

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Predefined Pane Layouts ...

even-horizontal

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even-vertical

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... Predefined Pane Layouts

main-horizontalmain-verticaltiled

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Buffers

Each pane has a buffer that storescommands entered and their output

has a limited size that defaults to 2000 lines

Enter “copy mode” toscroll through and copy linesEach copy adds a “paste buffer” to a stack

has a limited size that defaults to 20

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Copy Mode Actions

enter copy modeexit copy modemove cursorcopy selected textcopy all visible textlist paste buffersview paste buffer contents

save paste buffercontent to a filepaste text froma paste bufferchange paste bufferstack sizedelete one paste bufferdelete all paste buffers

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Configuration Options

Three kindsserver

session

window

Option scopeglobal

specific session

specific window

Actionsset option

show option

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Configuration Files

Looks for ~/.tmux.conf firstThen looks for /etc/tmux.confLet’s examine mine!

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Scripting

Consider creating one setup script for each projectCreates a new project session if it doesn’t exist

creates windows

splits them into panes

starts commands in some windowsex. editor, file watching apps, ssh, ...

Otherwise, attaches to existing sessionLet’s examine one of mine!

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Collaboration

ssh to a remote serverStart a tmux session thereAsk others to

ssh to same remote server

attach to same tmux session

Collaborate!

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Multiple Monitors

Run client in first monitor attached to main sessionRun client in other monitors attached to a new session that is “grouped” with main sessionAllows each client to viewa different window in main sessionSet window option “aggressive-resize” to “on”

allows each client window to be a different size

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Mac Specific Advice

Use iTerm2Change some System PreferencesChange some iTerm2 PreferencesFor details, see my OCI SETT article

http://sett.ociweb.com/sett/settJan2013.html

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Thanks For Listening!

mark@ociweb.com

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