Make tmux pretty and usable (2024) • Hacker News Board

Re: Make tmux pretty and usable (2024)

#11

Post by heatmiser » Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 3:14 PM UTC

I read "tmux 2: mouse-free productivity" in a weekend years ago and it may be, pound-for-pound, one of the more impactful books on my productivity.

Seems like they are keeping up-to-date too: https://bookshop.org/p/books/tmux-3-productive-mouse-free-de...

Re: Make tmux pretty and usable (2024)

#12

Post by tosti » Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 3:16 PM UTC

I like having a red bar for tmux running as root and a blue one for running it as a normal user, e.g. for root:

    set -g status-style "bg=red"

I also like to have the bar on top and the status centered:

    set -g status-justify absolute-centre
    set -g status-position top

Re: Make tmux pretty and usable (2024)

#13

Post by knubie » Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 3:16 PM UTC

I stopped using tmux when I started using kitty terminal with native split windows. I prefer the native window management of kitty, but I do miss the session saving of tmux (e.g. if I accidentally close a tab).

Re: Make tmux pretty and usable (2024)

#14

Post by seemaze » Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 3:16 PM UTC

I've been thoroughly impressed with tmux control mode[0] in iTerm2. This lets you manage remote terminal windows with your local window management provider. It is currently in the process of being implemented in ghostty[1] as well, can't wait!

[0] https://github.com/tmux/tmux/wiki/Control-Mode

[1] https://github.com/ghostty-org/ghostty/issues/1935#issuecomm...

Re: Make tmux pretty and usable (2024)

#15

Post by jimbokun » Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 3:20 PM UTC

Any guides for tmux configuration that works well with Emacs? The use of Ctrl and Meta for basic operations conflicts with a lot of Emacs commands.

Re: Make tmux pretty and usable (2024)

#16

Post by orbital-decay » Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 3:21 PM UTC

knubie wrote: post #13

I stopped using tmux when I started using kitty terminal with native split windows. I prefer the native window management of kitty, but I do miss the session saving of tmux (e.g. if I accidentally close a tab).

There are many separate session persistence daemons: dtach, zmx, hauntty, shpool, diss, abduco - take your pick

Re: Make tmux pretty and usable (2024)

#17

Post by alecsm » Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 3:21 PM UTC

I had my tmux customized to the point I forgot how to use it on a clean install which is a problem when I'm sshing into a server.

I wish it had better defaults but now I run it as is. After a while you get used to it. The only thing I always have to change is the mouse scroll and my brain cannot retain the exact command.

Re: Make tmux pretty and usable (2024)

#18

Post by yoyohello13 » Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 3:21 PM UTC

If you're interested in an out of the box multiplexer. https://zellij.dev/ is great. I've been using it for about a year now and loving it.

Re: Make tmux pretty and usable (2024)

#19

Post by Ravitej_Neeli » Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 3:21 PM UTC

nice update on tmux

Re: Make tmux pretty and usable (2024)

#20

Post by faangguyindia » Mon, Apr 13, 2026, 3:23 PM UTC

i used to use tmux a lot when i used to develop on arch, since i moved to macos i never installed it.

tbh i even forgot what it used to buy me.