This detailed guide will walk you through the installation and basic setup of tmux, a powerful and flexible terminal multiplexer. Tmux allows you to manage multiple terminal windows and panes within a single screen session, detach and reattach sessions, and drastically improve your productivity when working in the command-line environment.
Whether you're managing remote servers, writing code, or just want a cleaner workflow, tmux is a must-have tool in your terminal toolkit.
You can install tmux on nearly any operating system. Below are platform-specific instructions:
Run the following commands to update your package list and install tmux:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install tmux -yIf you're on an Arch-based system:
sudo pacman -S tmuxTo ensure tmux is installed correctly and ready to use, run:
tmux -VYou should see the installed version, for example: tmux 3.3a
If you see a version number, you're good to go!
Tmux can be customized with a configuration file named .tmux.conf, located in your home directory.
To create it:
touch ~/.tmux.confThis file is where you can define keybindings, visual style, mouse support, clipboard behavior, plugin usage, and much more.
Now that tmux is installed, it's time to configure it and learn how to use it effectively:
- 📄 Configure Tmux: Enhance tmux with themes, plugins, and keyboard shortcuts.
- 📘 Learn How to Use Tmux: A beginner-friendly crash course with essential commands and workflow tips.