Tutorial

sudo apt install tmux  # on Ubuntu

Three different ways to trigger a tmux command:

1. tmux <COMMAND> # via tmux program
2. (C-b) :<COMMAND> # tmux command window
3. (C-b <HOTKEY>) # tmux command hotkey/keybinding

Working with sessions (equivalent to a single desktop environment):

• Start a new session: tmux (new command)
• See all keybindings: C-b ?
• Detach session: C-b d (detach)
• Attach session: tmux a -t [SESSION_NAME] (attach)
• Rename session: C-b $
• List sessions: tmux ls (list-sessions)
• Kill session: tmux kill-session / tmux kill-server

Working with windows (equivalent to individual program windows in DE):

• Create new window: C-b c (neww)
• Change windows: C-b 0 / C-b 1 / ... / C-b l (last window)
• Kill window: C-b &

Working with panes:

• Split window into panes: C-b % or C-b " (split-window)
• Change panes: C-b Up / C-b Down / ...
• Move panes: C-b { / C-b }
• Tile panes: C-b M-5 (e.g. for even tiling)
• Kill pane: C-b x

Enable mouse support with :set -g mouse on. This changes some behaviours with regard to copy and pasting: highlight can still be done by holding Shift. Some things one can do:

• Left-click pane to set as active
• Left-click drag pane borders to adjust
• Right-click pane for context menu
• Left-click window title to set as active
• Left-click drag pane text to copy (C-b ] to paste)

Configure tmux server with config file at ~/.tmux.conf.

https://github.com/tmux/tmux/wiki/Getting-Started#copy-and-paste

~/.tmux.conf

# Quick reload for tmux configuration edits
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display "Reloaded!"
 
# Remap prefix from C-b to C-a (minicom convention)
unbind C-a 
set -g prefix C-a
bind C-a send-prefix
 
# Add mouse support
set -g mouse on
 
# Increase history
set-option -g history-limit 5000
 
# Change window and pane numbering (and cleanup)
set -g base-index 1
setw -g pane-base-index 1
set -g renumber-windows on
 
# Use '-' and '|' for vertical and horizontal splits
bind-key "|" split-window -h -c "#{pane_current_path}"
bind-key "\\" split-window -fh -c "#{pane_current_path}"
bind-key "-" split-window -v -c "#{pane_current_path}"
bind-key "_" split-window -fv -c "#{pane_current_path}"
 
# Preserve path on window creation
bind c new-window -c "#{pane_current_path}"
 
# Fast select windows
bind -n M-1 select-window -t 1
bind -n M-2 select-window -t 2
bind -n M-3 select-window -t 3
bind -n M-4 select-window -t 4
bind -n M-5 select-window -t 5
bind -n M-6 select-window -t 6
bind -n M-7 select-window -t 7
bind -n M-8 select-window -t 8
bind -n M-9 select-window -t 9
 
# Switch panes with Alt-arrows
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
 
# Compatibility for systems without 'tmux-256color'
set -g default-terminal "screen-256color"
 
# My favorite CLI shell
set -g default-shell /usr/bin/fish