# Tmux

> Remote-control tmux sessions for interactive CLIs by sending keystrokes and scraping pane output.

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

---


# tmux Session Control

Control tmux sessions by sending keystrokes and reading output. Essential for managing Claude Code sessions.

## When to Use

- Monitoring Claude/Codex sessions in tmux
- Sending input to interactive terminal applications
- Scraping output from long-running processes
- Navigating tmux panes/windows programmatically

For one-off commands, non-interactive scripts, or starting new processes, use `exec` directly.

## Example Sessions

| Session                 | Purpose                     |
| ----------------------- | --------------------------- |
| `shared`                | Primary interactive session |
| `worker-2` - `worker-8` | Parallel worker sessions    |

## Common Commands

### List Sessions

```bash
tmux list-sessions
tmux ls
```

### Capture Output

```bash
# Last 20 lines of pane
tmux capture-pane -t shared -p | tail -20

# Entire scrollback
tmux capture-pane -t shared -p -S -

# Specific pane in window
tmux capture-pane -t shared:0.0 -p
```

### Send Keys

```bash
# Send text (doesn't press Enter)
tmux send-keys -t shared "hello"

# Send text + Enter
tmux send-keys -t shared "y" Enter

# Send special keys
tmux send-keys -t shared Enter
tmux send-keys -t shared Escape
tmux send-keys -t shared C-c          # Ctrl+C
tmux send-keys -t shared C-d          # Ctrl+D (EOF)
tmux send-keys -t shared C-z          # Ctrl+Z (suspend)
```

### Window/Pane Navigation

```bash
# Select window
tmux select-window -t shared:0

# Select pane
tmux select-pane -t shared:0.1

# List windows
tmux list-windows -t shared
```

### Session Management

```bash
# Create new session
tmux new-session -d -s newsession

# Kill session
tmux kill-session -t sessionname

# Rename session
tmux rename-session -t old new
```

## Sending Input Safely

For interactive TUIs (Claude Code, Codex, etc.), split text and Enter into separate sends to avoid paste/multiline edge cases:

```bash
tmux send-keys -t shared -l -- "Please apply the patch in src/foo.ts"
sleep 0.1
tmux send-keys -t shared Enter
```

## Claude Code Session Patterns

### Check if Session Needs Input

```bash
# Look for prompts
tmux capture-pane -t worker-3 -p | tail -10 | grep -E "❯|Yes.*No|proceed|permission"
```

### Approve Claude Code Prompt

```bash
# Send 'y' and Enter
tmux send-keys -t worker-3 'y' Enter

# Or select numbered option
tmux send-keys -t worker-3 '2' Enter
```

### Check All Sessions Status

```bash
for s in shared worker-2 worker-3 worker-4 worker-5 worker-6 worker-7 worker-8; do
  echo "=== $s ==="
  tmux capture-pane -t $s -p 2>/dev/null | tail -5
done
```

### Send Task to Session

```bash
tmux send-keys -t worker-4 "Fix the bug in auth.js" Enter
```

## Notes

- Use `capture-pane -p` to print to stdout (essential for scripting)
- `-S -` captures entire scrollback history
- Target format: `session:window.pane` (e.g., `shared:0.0`)
- Sessions persist across SSH disconnects