Tmux

Tmux Configuration

XDG-compliant tmux configuration with custom key bindings and gruvbox-inspired theme.

Installation

make tmux

Or directly with stow:

cd tmux && stow --no-folding --target=$HOME .

Configuration Location

• Config: ~/.config/tmux/tmux.conf - Main tmux configuration file

Key Features

• Custom prefix: ` (backtick) instead of Ctrl-B for easier access
• Emacs-style key bindings for familiar navigation
• Mouse support enabled for modern terminal interaction
• Enhanced colors with gruvbox-inspired theme
• Increased history limit (50,000 lines)
• Quick window access with Alt+number shortcuts

Key Bindings

Prefix Key

• Prefix: ` (backtick) - Much easier to reach than Ctrl-B

Session Management

• ` d - Detach from session
• ` s - List and switch sessions
• ` $ - Rename current session

Window Management

• ` c - Create new window
• ` , - Rename current window
• ` n - Next window
• ` p - Previous window
• ` & - Kill current window
• Alt + 1-9 - Quick switch to window 1-9

Pane Management

• ` % - Split window vertically
• ` " - Split window horizontally
• ` o - Switch to next pane
• ` x - Kill current pane
• ` z - Toggle pane zoom

Configuration

• ` r - Reload tmux configuration
• ` ? - Show all key bindings

Color Scheme

The configuration uses a gruvbox-inspired color scheme with:

• Dark background for reduced eye strain
• High contrast text for readability
• Subtle accent colors for status information

Mouse Support

Mouse support is enabled for:

• Pane selection and resizing
• Window switching
• Scrolling through history
• Copy and paste operations

Status Bar

The status bar displays:

• Current session name
• Window list with activity indicators
• System information (time, date)

Tips for Productivity

Session Workflow

# Create a named session for a project
tmux new-session -s myproject

# Detach and reattach later
tmux attach -t myproject

# List all sessions
tmux list-sessions

Window Organization

• Use descriptive window names: ` , then type name
• Keep related tasks in the same session
• Use multiple sessions for different projects

Pane Management

• Split panes for related tasks (editor + terminal)
• Use ` z to focus on one pane temporarily
• Resize panes by dragging with mouse

Integration with Other Tools

Shell Integration

• Works seamlessly with zsh and bash configurations
• Preserves shell history across sessions
• Maintains environment variables

Editor Integration

• Compatible with Emacs and other terminal editors
• Proper color support for syntax highlighting
• Maintains clipboard integration

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

• Colors not working: Ensure terminal supports 256 colors
• Mouse not working: Check terminal mouse support settings
• Key bindings not working: Verify tmux version compatibility

Configuration Reload

After making changes to the configuration:

# Inside tmux session
` r

# Or restart tmux entirely
tmux kill-server && tmux