How to Use Tmux with iTerm2

Edited 4 days ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

iTerm2MacTerminalTmuxMultiplexingScriptingCommand LineProductivityAdvanced FeaturesConfiguration

Both Tmux and iTerm2 are powerful tools that can greatly enhance productivity when using the command line. Tmux is a terminal multiplexer that allows you to manage multiple terminal sessions from a single window. It enables you to switch between different tasks, split your terminal into a shell, and keep the session running even when disconnected. On the other hand, iTerm2 is an intuitive terminal emulator for macOS that offers a wide range of features.

In this guide, we will explore how to efficiently use Tmux with iTerm2. By the end of this guide, you will understand how to set up and use Tmux with iTerm2, how to improve your workflow, and how to utilize the power of both tools to their full potential.

Setting up iTerm2

Before we start using Tmux, let's make sure iTerm2 is set up properly. You can download iTerm2 from its official website and install it on your macOS system. iTerm2 extends the functionality of the default macOS terminal, providing additional features like split panes, search, and more.

Installing iTerm2

Follow these steps to install iTerm2:

1. Visit the official website of iTerm2
2. Download the latest version of iTerm2 for macOS.
3. Once the download is complete, open the .dmg file and drag iTerm2 to your Applications folder.
4. Launch iTerm2 from the Applications folder.

Installing Tmux

Tmux can be easily installed on MacOS using Homebrew, which is a package manager for macOS. If you don’t have Homebrew installed, you can install it by executing the following command in your terminal:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Once Homebrew is installed, install Tmux by doing the following:

brew install tmux

Verify that Tmux is successfully installed by running the following command:

tmux -V

This will display the version of Tmux installed on your machine.

Basic Tmux concepts

Tmux works with a few core concepts: sessions, windows, and panes. Understanding these concepts is fundamental to using Tmux efficiently.

Session

A Tmux session groups multiple windows. You can think of a session as a collection of related tasks. Each session is independent, and you can switch between them as needed.

Below is how you can create a new session:

tmux new -s session_name

To list all the sessions you have created, use:

tmux ls

You can connect to an existing session by using:

tmux attach-session -t session_name

You can detach from a session by pressing Ctrl + b followed by d.

Windows

Think of windows in Tmux like tabs in a web browser. Each window can have its own set of panes. You can have multiple windows in a single session.

To create a new window, press Ctrl + b followed by c.

To switch between windows, press Ctrl + b followed by n for the next window or p for the previous window.

You can also jump to a specific window by pressing Ctrl + b and its corresponding number.

Panel

Panes are subdivisions of a window when using Tmux. They are used within the same window, and you can split them horizontally or vertically.

To split a window into panes horizontally, use Ctrl + b followed by ".

To split a window vertically, press Ctrl + b followed by %.

You can switch between panes by using Ctrl + b followed by the arrow keys.

Setting up tmux integration with iTerm2

iTerm2 has built-in support for Tmux, which makes it easy to manage Tmux sessions using the iTerm2 interface. Follow these steps to integrate Tmux with iTerm2:

Enabling control mode

Tmux's control mode allows iTerm2 to connect to a Tmux session and display its window as a native iTerm2 tab or window.

Add the following line to your .tmux.conf file:

set-option -g terminal-overrides 'xterm*:smcup@:rmcup@'

Start a new Tmux session and proceed with the following command to enable the integration of iTerm2:

tmux -CC

This will start in Tmux control mode, and iTerm2 will take over management of the windows and panes. Each Tmux window will correspond to an iTerm2 tab, and you can now manage the panes within these tabs using iTerm2's interface.

Advanced Tmux usage

Now that we've setup Tmux with iTerm2, let's explore some advanced usage tips and techniques that can further improve your productivity.

Navigating between different sessions

Frequent users of Tmux often manage multiple sessions simultaneously. You can navigate between different sessions seamlessly.

To detach from the current session and add another session, use:

tmux switch -t session_name

Alternatively, you can use:

Ctrl + b :

This command opens the Tmux command prompt. From there, you can type:

switch-session -t session_name

Customizing Tmux

You can customize the behavior and appearance of Tmux by editing the .tmux.conf file located in your home directory.

Changing the prefix key

By default, Tmux uses Ctrl + b as the prefix key. If you are uncomfortable with this or find it cumbersome, you can change it to another combination.

Add the following line to your .tmux.conf:

unbind Cb
set -g prefix Ca
bind Ca send-prefix

This will change the prefix key to Ctrl + a.

Custom status bar

The Tmux status bar is customizable, allowing you to display a variety of information such as the date, time, or system resources.

Add the following to your .tmux.conf to display the time and date on the right side of the status bar:

set -g status-right "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"

Scripting and automation

You can automate your Tmux workflow by scripting your session setup. For example, you can create a script that sets up a session with multiple windows and panes.

Here's a simple script that creates two windows and splits them into panes:

#!/bin/bash
tmux new-session -d -s my_session
tmux rename-window -t my_session:1 'Main'
tmux split-window -h
tmux new-window -t my_session -n 'Logs'
tmux send-keys -t my_session:2 'tail -f /var/log/syslog' Cm
tmux attach-session -t my_session

Save the script and execute it to create an automatic Tmux setup.

Conclusion

Tmux and iTerm2, when used together, create a powerful and flexible command-line environment that can boost productivity substantially. By understanding the basics of Tmux, expertly integrating it with iTerm2, and employing some advanced techniques, you can effectively manage multiple tasks, automate workflows, and boost your command-line efficiency.

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