tmux + screen cheatsheet.

tmux sessions

tmux                                # start
tmux new -s work                    # named
tmux ls                             # list
tmux attach                         # attach last
tmux attach -t work
tmux kill-session -t work
tmux kill-server

Prefix

Default Ctrl-b. After prefix:

Windows

c       new window
,       rename
n / p   next/prev
0-9     switch by number
w       list/select
&       kill

Panes

%       split vertical
"       split horizontal
arrow   move between
o       cycle
x       close pane
z       zoom toggle
{ }     swap
space   cycle layouts
!       break pane to window
q       show pane numbers

Resize

prefix + ctrl-arrow         resize
prefix + alt-arrow          resize bigger

Sessions inside

d       detach
s       switch session
$       rename session
(       prev session
)       next session

Copy mode

[       enter copy mode
space   start selection
enter   copy
]       paste

In vi mode: prefix + [ then v to start, y to yank.

Sync panes

prefix + :setw synchronize-panes on

Send input to all panes.

Useful config (~/.tmux.conf)

# Better prefix
set -g prefix C-a
unbind C-b
bind C-a send-prefix

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

# Mouse
set -g mouse on

# vi mode
setw -g mode-keys vi

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

# Split same dir
bind | split-window -h -c "#{pane_current_path}"
bind - split-window -v -c "#{pane_current_path}"

# Status bar
set -g status-bg colour235
set -g status-fg colour255
set -g status-right "#{?client_prefix,#[fg=red]^A,} %H:%M %d-%b-%y"

# Longer scrollback
set -g history-limit 50000

# Faster escape
set -g escape-time 0

screen (legacy)

screen                              # start
screen -S work                      # named
screen -ls                          # list
screen -r work                      # reattach
screen -d -r work                   # detach others, reattach

# Inside (prefix: Ctrl-a)
c       new window
n / p   next/prev
"       window list
ctrl-d  detach
k       kill window
S       split horizontal
|       split vertical
tab     switch

Persistent shells

Both survive SSH disconnect:

tmux new -s work
# ssh dies
# reconnect
tmux a -t work

For services that “must outlive shell”: prefer systemd.

tmuxinator / tmuxp (sessions as config)

# project.yml
name: myapp
windows:
  - editor: vim
  - server:
      panes:
        - logs: tail -f /var/log/app.log
        - shell:
  - db: psql -d myapp

mux start project

Useful for repeatable dev environments.

tmux + ssh

ssh -t host 'tmux new -ADs work'    # attach or create

-A: attach if exists. -D: detach others. -s: name.

Pair programming

tmux new -s pair
# share .tmux socket via group perms

Or use teleconsole / tmate (built for this).

brew install tmate
tmate
# Outputs SSH URL to share

Common mistakes

  • Forgetting prefix for commands → typed into shell.
  • Mouse mode + scroll wheel → exit copy mode quirk.
  • Long-running tasks in tmux on workstation (use systemd).
  • Mismatched tmux versions client/server (don’t mix).

Read this next

If you want my tmux + neovim setup, it’s at rajpoot.dev .

Building something AI-, backend-, or data-heavy and want a second pair of eyes? I do consulting and freelance work — see my projects and ways to reach me at rajpoot.dev .