How to Install and Use tmux on Ubuntu

tmux is an incredibly powerful terminal multiplexer that is widely used in Linux systems, especially by developers, system administrators, and DevOps engineers. With tmux, you can run multiple sessions in one terminal window, keep sessions persistent, and reconnect even after disconnecting. One of the main advantages of tmux is its "session persistence" feature, which allows you to resume your work even after closing or losing your terminal connection.

In this article, we will cover how to install tmux on Ubuntu, how to use its key features, and tips for getting the most out of this useful tool.

What is tmux?

tmux is an open-source terminal multiplexer that allows users to create and manage multiple virtual terminal sessions within a single terminal window. This is extremely useful for users who need to multitask, as it allows you to keep various tasks running without having to open multiple terminal windows.

Similar to the screen command, tmux supports window splitting, session persistence, and session sharing.

• Terminal Multiplexing: Run multiple programs in one terminal session.
• Session Persistence: Even if the terminal session is disconnected, tmux will save your current session, and you can reconnect at any time.
• Multiple Windows and Panes: You can create several windows in a single tmux session, and each window can be further split into multiple panes.

How to Install tmux on Ubuntu

1. Install Using APT Package Manager

The simplest way to install tmux on Ubuntu is by using the APT package manager. Since tmux is available in the official repositories of most Linux distributions, you can install it directly using the following commands:

First, update the package list:

sudo apt update

Then, install tmux:

sudo apt install tmux

This will install the latest version of tmux from Ubuntu’s official repositories. After installation, you can verify the installation by typing:

tmux -V

2. Installing a Specific Version of tmux

If you want to install a specific version of tmux, or if you need the latest version that may not yet be in the official repositories, you can choose to compile tmux from source. Here are the steps:

1. Install the necessary build dependencies: sudo apt-get install build-essential libevent-dev libncurses5-dev
2. Download the tmux source code: wget https://github.com/tmux/tmux/releases/download/3.3a/tmux-3.3a.tar.gz
3. Extract the downloaded file: tar -xvzf tmux-3.3a.tar.gz cd tmux-3.3a
4. Configure, compile, and install tmux: ./configure make sudo make install
5. Verify the installation by typing: tmux -V

This method ensures that you are installing the latest or specific version of tmux.

Common tmux Commands and Operations

1. Start a tmux Session

Once tmux is installed, you can start a new session with the following command:

tmux

This will start a new tmux session and show a terminal window where you can run any command or application.

2. Create a New Window

By default, there is only one window in a tmux session. To create a new window, press the following key combination:

Ctrl+b, c

This will create a new window where you can run different programs or commands.

3. Switch Between Windows

To switch between different windows in your tmux session, use the following shortcuts:

Ctrl+b, n   # Switch to the next window
Ctrl+b, p   # Switch to the previous window
Ctrl+b, [number] # Switch to the window with a specific number (0-9)

4. Split the Terminal (Panes)

tmux allows you to split a single window into multiple panes. This is particularly useful if you want to monitor multiple tasks simultaneously.

• Vertical split: Ctrl+b, %
• Horizontal split: Ctrl+b, "

You can navigate between panes using the following shortcuts:

Ctrl+b, Up Arrow    # Move to the pane above
Ctrl+b, Down Arrow  # Move to the pane below
Ctrl+b, Left Arrow  # Move to the pane on the left
Ctrl+b, Right Arrow # Move to the pane on the right

5. Detach and Reattach Sessions

One of the most useful features of tmux is the ability to detach from a session and leave it running in the background. To detach from a session, use:

Ctrl+b, d

You can then reconnect to your session at any time with:

tmux attach-session

If you have multiple sessions running, you can specify the session name to reattach:

tmux attach-session -t [session_name]

6. Close a tmux Session

To exit a tmux session, type exit in the session or use:

Ctrl+b, :kill-session

This will close the current session.

Advanced tmux Features

tmux provides several advanced features that you can take advantage of to improve your workflow:

• Customizing tmux: You can modify the default key bindings and settings by editing the ~/.tmux.conf configuration file.
• Plugins: You can enhance tmux's functionality by installing third-party plugins via the tpm plugin manager.
• Mouse Support: Enable mouse support to interact with tmux using your mouse for scrolling and selecting.

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