I am using tmux terminal multiplexer daily. It is an irreplaceable utility that eases everyday tasks as it lets you switch between multiple applications in one terminal. I will briefly describe my personal configuration setup.
Brief description
Unbind the default C-b prefix.
unbind-key C-b
Define ` backtick as prefix.
set -g prefix `
Send ` backtick to the application after typing it twice.
bind-key ` send-prefix
Set to zero the time for which tmux waits after an escape is input to determine if it is part of a function or meta key sequence. By default, it is 500ms.
set -g escape-time 0
Ensure that prefix will not be triggered on paste. This definition is redundant.
set -g assume-paste-time 1
Use prefix r to read and process configuration.
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display "Configuration executed"
Start counting windows from 1.
set -g base-index 1
Start counting panes from 1.
set-window-option -g pane-base-index 1
Define the left part of the status bar as one empty character for better readability.
set -g status-left " "
Define the right part of the status bar as session hostname time.
set -g status-right "#[fg=colour088]#S #[fg=colour232]#h #[fg=colour255]%r"
Justify the window list to the left. This definition is redundant.
set -g status-justify left
Do not monitor for activity and silence by default, as I prefer per window settings.
set-window-option -g monitor-activity off set-window-option -g monitor-silence 0
Do not display messages about silence, bell, and activity.
set -g visual-activity off set -g visual-bell off set -g visual-silence off
Define activity and bell style.
set -g window-status-activity-style 'bg=colour031,fg=colour048' set -g window-status-bell-style 'bg=colour031,fg=colour088'
Define key bindings for easy activity/silence window monitoring.
bind-key M-a set-window-option monitor-activity on ; display "Monitoring window for activity" bind-key M-A set-window-option monitor-activity off ; display "NOT monitoring window for activity" bind-key M-s set-window-option monitor-silence 15 ; display "Monitoring window for silence" bind-key M-S set-window-option monitor-silence 0 ; display "NOT monitoring window for silence"
Set the default terminal type.
set -g default-terminal "screen-256color"
Set status bar color.
set -g status-bg colour031
Set messages color.
set -g message-fg colour232 set -g message-bg colour031
Set window status colors.
set-window-option -g window-status-fg colour232 set-window-option -g window-status-bg colour031 set-window-option -g window-status-current-fg colour255 set-window-option -g window-status-current-bg colour031
Set panel border colors.
set -g pane-border-fg colour235 set -g pane-active-border-fg colour255
Use vi keys in copy and choice modes.
set-window-option -g mode-keys vi
Configure clock.
setw -g clock-mode-colour colour031 setw -g clock-mode-style 24
Configuration file
My personal ~/.tmux.conf configuration file.
# Personal tmux configuration # # Source: https://sleeplessbeastie.eu/2016/08/22/personal-tmux-configuration/ # # # color code used for # black colour000 currently commented out # bright green colour048 activity/silence window trigger # dark red colour088 bell window trigger # grey colour232 inactive window status, message text # almost black colour235 pane inactive border, hostname in status # white colour255 current window status, pane active border, current time in status # blue colour031 window status background, message background, status background, clock # # Some color definitions are commented out to work flawlessly on different terminal profiles # # unbind the default prefix unbind-key C-b # set backtick as prefix set -g prefix ` # type backtick twice to send it to the application bind-key ` send-prefix # tweak escape time set -g escape-time 0 # ensure that prefix will be not triggered on paste set -g assume-paste-time 1 # use prefix r to reload configuration bind-key r source-file ~/.tmux.conf ; display "Configuration reloaded" # start counting windows from 1 set -g base-index 1 # start counting panes from 1 set-window-option -g pane-base-index 1 # define left part of the status bar as one empty character for better readability set -g status-left " " # define right part of the status bar as session, hostname and time set -g status-right "#[fg=colour088]#S #[fg=colour232]#h #[fg=colour255]%r" # justify window list to the left set -g status-justify left # do not monitor for activity and silence by default set-window-option -g monitor-activity off set-window-option -g monitor-silence 0 # do not display messages about silence, bell and activity set -g visual-activity off set -g visual-bell on set -g visual-silence off # define activity and bell style set -g window-status-activity-style 'bg=colour031,fg=colour048' set -g window-status-bell-style 'bg=colour031,fg=colour088' # define keys for easy activity/silence monitoring bind-key M-a set-window-option monitor-activity on ; display "Monitoring window for activity" bind-key M-A set-window-option monitor-activity off ; display "NOT monitoring window for activity" bind-key M-s set-window-option monitor-silence 15 ; display "Monitoring window for silence" bind-key M-S set-window-option monitor-silence 0 ; display "NOT monitoring window for silence" # set default terminal type set -g default-terminal "screen-256color" # set status bar colors #set -g status-fg colour255 set -g status-bg colour031 #set -g status-attr bright # set messages color set -g message-fg colour232 set -g message-bg colour031 #set -g message-attr bright # set bottom window status colors set-window-option -g window-status-fg colour232 set-window-option -g window-status-bg colour031 #set-window-option -g window-status-attr bright set-window-option -g window-status-current-fg colour255 set-window-option -g window-status-current-bg colour031 #set-window-option -g window-status-current-attr bright # set panel border colors set -g pane-border-fg colour235 #set -g pane-border-bg colour000 set -g pane-active-border-fg colour255 #set -g pane-active-border-bg colour000 # use vi keys in copy and choice modes set-window-option -g mode-keys vi # Clock setw -g clock-mode-colour colour031 setw -g clock-mode-style 24
Additional notes
I can strongly recommend tmux – Productive Mouse-Free Development book for those who want more information on this topic.
Update 14.11.2020
Please note that tmux style options changed over time.