tmux

tmux

Use this skill for terminal multiplexing when the current terminal is not managed by cmux or Ghostex.

Detection

env | grep '^CMUX_'         # if present, switch to the cmux skill
env | grep '^GHOSTEX_'      # if present, the terminal is Ghostex-managed: use its bundled ghostex-agent-orchestration skill
test -n "$TMUX" && echo tmux
command -v tmux

Routing:

• If CMUX_WORKSPACE_ID and CMUX_SURFACE_ID are set, use the cmux skill.
• Else if GHOSTEX_* env vars are set (e.g. GHOSTEX_ZMX_BIN), the terminal is Ghostex-managed: use the bundled ghostex-agent-orchestration skill (zmx underneath). A merely-running Ghostex app elsewhere does not count - gx state succeeding is server state, not terminal ownership.
• Else if TMUX is set, target the current tmux server/session.
• Else if tmux exists, create or attach a tmux session before relying on pane operations.
• Else, no supported queryable pane manager is active.

Inspect Layout

tmux list-sessions
tmux list-windows -a -F '#{session_name}:#{window_index} #{window_name} active=#{window_active}'
tmux list-panes -a -F '#{session_name}:#{window_index}.#{pane_index} #{pane_id} active=#{pane_active} cwd=#{pane_current_path} cmd=#{pane_current_command} title=#{pane_title}'
tmux display-message -p '#{session_name}:#{window_index}.#{pane_index} #{pane_id}'

Always inspect layout first, then use explicit targets. Prefer %pane_id; it remains stable if windows are rearranged.

Read Screen

tmux capture-pane -p -t %pane_id -S -80
tmux capture-pane -p -t %pane_id -S -200
tmux capture-pane -p -t session:window.pane -S -80

Send Input

tmux send-keys -t %pane_id "command here" Enter
tmux send-keys -t %pane_id Enter
tmux send-keys -t %pane_id C-c

Prefer sending full commands plus Enter; use keys for control sequences.

Create Sessions, Windows, and Panes

tmux new-session -d -s name -c /path
tmux attach-session -t name
tmux new-window -t name -n title -c /path
tmux split-window -h -t %pane_id -c /path
tmux split-window -v -t %pane_id -c /path

Focus and Close

tmux switch-client -t session
tmux select-window -t session:window
tmux select-pane -t %pane_id
tmux kill-pane -t %pane_id
tmux kill-window -t session:window
tmux kill-session -t session

Move Panes and Windows

tmux move-window -s source:window -t target:window
tmux move-pane -s %source_pane -t %target_pane
tmux join-pane -s %source_pane -t %target_pane
tmux break-pane -s %pane_id

Buffers and Signals

tmux set-buffer -b scratch "text"
tmux paste-buffer -b scratch -t %pane_id
tmux wait-for build-done
tmux wait-for -S build-done

Agent Workflow

tmux new-session -d -s agent-task -c /repo
tmux send-keys -t agent-task:0.0 "droid" Enter
tmux attach-session -t agent-task

Run normal agent CLIs in tmux panes (droid, hermes, codex).

Safety Rules

• Inspect layout before reading or sending input.
• Use explicit targets (%pane_id or session:window.pane).
• Do not send destructive commands to a pane unless you have verified the target.
• Prefer a dedicated session for long-running delegated agents.