# Tmux

> Use only for interactive terminals (TUI applications) or when sudo password entry is required — not for general command execution.

- Skill: `jav-ed/tmux-2` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 4 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add jav-ed/tmux-2`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/jav-ed/tmux-2/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: jav-ed (https://skillmd.com/u/jav-ed)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/jav-ed/tmux-2

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# tmux Terminal Interaction

Use native tmux commands when you need an interactive terminal (TUI applications) or when a command requires the user to enter a sudo password. For everything else, use the Bash tool directly.

## References

- [Output capture](references/output_Capture.md) — which capture method to use and when (file+sentinel, capture-pane, what to avoid)
- [sudo workflow](references/sudo_Workflow.md) — how to run privileged commands when a password is required
- [Session & pane management](references/session_Pane.md) — creating, splitting, and killing sessions and panes

## Standard Workflow

```
1. Get pane ID once  → tmux list-panes -a -F "#{session_name}:#{pane_id}"
2. Clear outputs     → rm -f /tmp/tmux_out.txt /tmp/tmux_done.txt
3. Execute           → tmux send-keys -t '%X' 'cmd > /tmp/tmux_out.txt 2>&1; echo ok > /tmp/tmux_done.txt' Enter
4. Poll              → for i in $(seq 1 20); do [ -f /tmp/tmux_done.txt ] && break; sleep 0.5; done
5. Read result       → cat /tmp/tmux_out.txt
```

Reuse the same pane ID throughout the session — IDs are stable for the lifetime of the pane.

## Quick Reference

| Task | Command |
|------|---------|
| List sessions | `tmux list-sessions` |
| List panes | `tmux list-panes -a -F "#{session_name}:#{pane_id}"` |
| Send command | `tmux send-keys -t '%X' 'cmd' Enter` |
| Capture (short output) | `tmux capture-pane -p -t '%X' -S -10` |
| Capture (reliable) | file + sentinel — see [output_Capture.md](references/output_Capture.md) |
| Attach (for sudo) | `tmux attach -t name` |
| Create session | `tmux new-session -d -s name` |
| Kill session | `tmux kill-session -t name` |