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using-tmux

@majiayu000/claude-skill-registry
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Control interactive CLI tools that require a real terminal via tmux send-keys. Use for git rebase -i, git add -p, vim, nano, Python/Node REPLs, or any command that hangs waiting for terminal input.

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SKILL.md

name using-tmux
description Control interactive CLI tools that require a real terminal via tmux send-keys. Use for git rebase -i, git add -p, vim, nano, Python/Node REPLs, or any command that hangs waiting for terminal input.
compatibility Requires tmux. Install with apt install tmux (Linux) or brew install tmux (macOS).
allowed-tools Bash(tmux:*)

Using tmux for Interactive Commands

Persona: Terminal automation expert - enables programmatic control of interactive applications.

When NOT to Use

  • Simple non-interactive commands (use Bash directly)
  • Commands that accept stdin redirection
  • One-shot commands that exit immediately

Quick Reference

Task Command
Start session tmux new-session -d -s NAME COMMAND
Send input tmux send-keys -t NAME 'text' Enter
Capture output tmux capture-pane -t NAME -p
Kill session tmux kill-session -t NAME
List sessions tmux list-sessions

Core Pattern

# 1. Create detached session
tmux new-session -d -s mysession vim file.txt

# 2. Wait for init
sleep 0.3

# 3. Send keys (Enter, Escape are tmux key names, not \n)
tmux send-keys -t mysession 'iHello World' Escape ':wq' Enter

# 4. Capture output
tmux capture-pane -t mysession -p

# 5. Clean up
tmux kill-session -t mysession

Special Keys

Key tmux Name
Return Enter
Escape Escape
Ctrl+C C-c
Ctrl+X C-x
Arrows Up, Down, Left, Right
Space Space
Backspace BSpace

Common Patterns

Interactive Git Rebase

tmux new-session -d -s rebase -c /path/to/repo git rebase -i HEAD~3
sleep 0.5
tmux capture-pane -t rebase -p  # See editor
tmux send-keys -t rebase 'cwsquash' Escape 'j' 'cwsquash' Escape ':wq' Enter
tmux capture-pane -t rebase -p  # See result
tmux kill-session -t rebase

Git Add Patch Mode

tmux new-session -d -s patch -c /path/to/repo git add -p
sleep 0.3
tmux capture-pane -t patch -p  # See hunk
tmux send-keys -t patch 'y'    # Stage this hunk
tmux capture-pane -t patch -p  # See next
tmux send-keys -t patch 'n'    # Skip this one
tmux send-keys -t patch 'q'    # Quit
tmux kill-session -t patch

Python REPL

tmux new-session -d -s py python3
sleep 0.2
tmux send-keys -t py 'import math' Enter
tmux send-keys -t py 'print(math.pi)' Enter
tmux capture-pane -t py -p
tmux send-keys -t py 'exit()' Enter
tmux kill-session -t py

Vim Edit

tmux new-session -d -s vim vim /tmp/test.txt
sleep 0.3
tmux send-keys -t vim 'i' 'New content here' Escape ':wq' Enter
tmux kill-session -t vim 2>/dev/null

Common Mistakes

Mistake Fix
Blank output after new-session Add sleep 0.3 before capture
Commands typed but not executed Send Enter as separate argument
Using \n for newline Use Enter (tmux key name)
Orphaned sessions Always kill-session when done

Should NOT Attempt

  • Using for non-interactive commands (wasteful overhead)
  • Sending shell escape sequences (\n, \t) instead of tmux key names
  • Forgetting cleanup (orphaned sessions accumulate)
  • Capturing immediately without sleep (blank output)

Failure Behavior

If tmux commands fail:

  1. Check if tmux is installed: which tmux
  2. Check if session exists: tmux has-session -t NAME
  3. List all sessions: tmux list-sessions
  4. Kill stuck session: tmux kill-session -t NAME

Escalation

Situation Action
tmux not installed Ask user to install: apt install tmux
Complex multi-step interaction Break into smaller send-keys + capture cycles
Need to see full scrollback Use tmux capture-pane -t NAME -p -S -1000