How do I install the Tmux Terminal skill?

Run npx skillmds add modbender/tmux-terminal in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

What does the Tmux Terminal skill do?

Interactive terminal control via tmux for TUI apps, prompts, and long-running CLI workflows. It is listed under Coding & Dev Tools on SkillMD.

Is Tmux Terminal safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: docs only. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Tmux Terminal?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Tmux Terminal free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Tmux Terminal?

modbender (@modbender) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Tmux Terminal by modbender — Agent Skill

Name: Tmux Terminal
Rating: 4.666666666666667 (3 reviews)
Author: modbender

File contents

tmux-terminal

Overview

Use tmux to drive interactive terminal sessions, including TUI workflows like ralph-tui. tmux lets you send keystrokes, capture screen output, and keep processes running between steps.

When to Use

Testing ralph-tui or any interactive CLI prompts
Managing long-running processes (web server, loops, watch mode)
Capturing live terminal output for QA reports
Interacting with applications that redraw the screen

Prerequisites

tmux installed (pre-installed on macOS)

Verify:

tmux -V

Core Commands

Create a detached session:

tmux new-session -d -s <name>

Send commands (append Enter to execute):

tmux send-keys -t <name> "<command>" Enter

Capture screen output:

tmux capture-pane -t <name> -p

Kill session when done:

tmux kill-session -t <name>

Special Keys

Use send-keys with key names:

Enter
C-c (Ctrl-C)
C-d (Ctrl-D)
Tab
Escape
Up, Down, Left, Right

Examples:

tmux send-keys -t <name> Up
tmux send-keys -t <name> C-c

TUI Interaction Patterns

Start ralph-tui

tmux new-session -d -s ralph-tui
tmux send-keys -t ralph-tui "cargo run -p ralph-tui" Enter

Navigate in TUI

tmux send-keys -t ralph-tui Down
tmux send-keys -t ralph-tui Enter

Capture and parse the screen

tmux capture-pane -t ralph-tui -p -S -200

Use -S -200 to capture the last 200 lines when the screen is noisy.

Long-Running Process Management

Start servers or loops in a tmux session to keep them alive.
Use capture-pane to confirm health (look for "listening" or "ready" text).
Stop cleanly with C-c then kill-session.

Example:

tmux new-session -d -s ralph-web
tmux send-keys -t ralph-web "cargo run -p ralph-cli -- web" Enter
tmux capture-pane -t ralph-web -p | rg -n "listening|ready"
tmux send-keys -t ralph-web C-c
tmux kill-session -t ralph-web

Notes

Keep session names short and unique.
Always clean up sessions to avoid leaking background processes.
If output looks empty, wait briefly and capture again.

---name: tmux-terminaldescription: Interactive terminal control via tmux for TUI apps, prompts, and long-running CLI workflows.--- # tmux-terminal ## Overview Use tmux to drive interactive terminal sessions, including TUI workflows like `ralph-tui`. tmux lets you send keystrokes, capture screen output, and keep processes running between steps. ## When to Use - Testing `ralph-tui` or any interactive CLI prompts - Managing long-running processes (web server, loops, watch mode) - Capturing live terminal output for QA reports - Interacting with applications that redraw the screen ## Prerequisites - `tmux` installed (pre-installed on macOS) Verify: ```bash tmux -V ``` ## Core Commands Create a detached session: ```bash tmux new-session -d -s <name> ``` Send commands (append Enter to execute): ```bash tmux send-keys -t <name> "<command>" Enter ``` Capture screen output: ```bash tmux capture-pane -t <name> -p ``` Kill session when done: ```bash tmux kill-session -t <name> ``` ## Special Keys Use `send-keys` with key names: - `Enter` - `C-c` (Ctrl-C) - `C-d` (Ctrl-D) - `Tab` - `Escape` - `Up`, `Down`, `Left`, `Right` Examples: ```bash tmux send-keys -t <name> Up tmux send-keys -t <name> C-c ``` ## TUI Interaction Patterns ### Start ralph-tui ```bash tmux new-session -d -s ralph-tui tmux send-keys -t ralph-tui "cargo run -p ralph-tui" Enter ``` ### Navigate in TUI ```bash tmux send-keys -t ralph-tui Down tmux send-keys -t ralph-tui Enter ``` ### Capture and parse the screen ```bash tmux capture-pane -t ralph-tui -p -S -200 ``` Use `-S -200` to capture the last 200 lines when the screen is noisy. ## Long-Running Process Management - Start servers or loops in a tmux session to keep them alive. - Use `capture-pane` to confirm health (look for "listening" or "ready" text). - Stop cleanly with `C-c` then `kill-session`. Example: ```bash tmux new-session -d -s ralph-web tmux send-keys -t ralph-web "cargo run -p ralph-cli -- web" Enter tmux capture-pane -t ralph-web -p | rg -n "listening|ready" tmux send-keys -t ralph-web C-c tmux kill-session -t ralph-web ``` ## Notes - Keep session names short and unique. - Always clean up sessions to avoid leaking background processes. - If output looks empty, wait briefly and capture again.

Frequently asked questions