How to Install and Use tmux on Linux: A Beginner's Guide

Introduction to tmux

• 💡 tmux is a terminal multiplexer that allows you to run multiple terminal sessions within a single window.
• 🎯 This is achieved by splitting the screen into panes, enabling concurrent command execution and background task management.

Installing tmux

• 💻 To install tmux on Linux, open your terminal and execute the command sudo apt install tmux.
• 🔑 You will be prompted to enter your password and confirm the installation by typing 'yes'.

Basic tmux Usage

• 🚀 Start a tmux session by typing tmux in the terminal.
• 📊 The status bar at the bottom indicates the current window number (starting from 0).
• 🔑 The prefix key is Ctrl + B. This must be pressed before most tmux commands.

Managing Windows and Panes

• ➕ Create a new window by pressing Ctrl + B followed by C.
• 🪟 List all windows with Ctrl + B then W, and switch between them using arrow keys or by number (Ctrl + B + window number).
• 🔀 Split the current pane vertically using Ctrl + B and % (Shift + 5).
• ↔️ Split the current pane horizontally using Ctrl + B and the sign next to Enter.
• ⬆️⬇️↔️➡️ Navigate between split panes using Ctrl + B followed by the arrow keys.

Sessions: Detaching, Attaching, and Naming

• 📤 Detach from a running tmux session by pressing Ctrl + B then D.
• 📄 List all active sessions with tmux ls.
• 🔗 Reattach to a session using tmux attach -t <session_name_or_number>.
• 🏷️ Create a named session for easier management with tmux new -s <session_name>.
• 🚀 Reattaching to a named session is done via tmux attach -t <session_name>.