tmux.conf

My customized tmux config file...

• tmux.conf
  • Added features (compared to default tmux)
  • Screenshot example
  • Update your .tmux.conf file
  • Rename tmux window name in case of a ssh session
  • Set the correct XTERM
  • Modifying tmux colors
  • Kitty instead of Putty
  • More info

Added features (compared to default tmux)

• Use prefix <ctrl>-<a> instead of the default <ctrl>-<b> prefix.
• Use <shift>-<left arrow> and <shift>-<right arrow> to switch between windows.
• Use prefix 'r' to reload your ~/.tmux.conf file.
• Use prefix '|' to split panes horizonal.
• Use prefix '-' to split panes vertical.
• Use <alt>-<left arrow> and <alt>-<right arrow> to switch horizonal between planes.
• Use <alt>-<arrow up> and <alt>-<arrow down> to switch vertical between planes.
• Use F2 for help (press 'q' to return).
• Use F3 for a list of hot-keys (press 'q' to return).

Tested on Fedora23+ and RHEL/Centos7+, tmux version 1.8+ and 2.1+

Screenshot example

Update your .tmux.conf file

Download my ~/.tmux.conf to your home directory using:

$ wget -O ~/.tmux.conf https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tedsluis/tmux.conf/master/.tmux.conf

Rename tmux window name in case of a ssh session

Tmux is by default not aware of remote hostnames after ssh. It will keep displaying the hostname on which tmux is running in the status bar. This small 'shortcoming' can be resolved by adding a ssh subroutine (a few lines a code) to ~/.bashrc in your home directory: addtobashrc
It will execute these lines evertime you run ssh and rename the tmux status bar name of your ssh session.
(note: this subroutine will become active after you login again)

Set the correct XTERM

Your default terminal may only supports 16 colors instead of 256 colors. In this can you could change your XTERM by adding this to ~/.bashrc in your home directory:

export TERM=screen-256color

(note:this setting will become active after you login again)

Modifying tmux colors

Tmux colors (for windows, panes, status bar, etc) can be set within the ~/.tmux.config. A small script called colors.pl can be very helpful. It shows screen colors with their color number (and name):

Kitty instead of Putty

Although Putty is widely used to connect from a Microsoft Windows host to a linux host, it does not support the <shift>-<arrow> and the <alt>-<arrow> keys.
<shift>-<left arrow> turns out to be the same as <left arrow> in a terminal.
Fortunately a fork of Putty called Kitty does support <shift>/<alt>-<arrow keys> and it has many more useful features.
Be sure you select the 'Xterm R6' within Kitty (configuration/Terminal/Keyboard).

Kitty can be download here: http://www.fosshub.com/KiTTY.html

More info

You need more info on tmux? Check these resources:

• http://tmux.github.io/
• https://github.com/tmux/tmux
• run 'man tmux' from the command line.
• tmux faq at stackoverflow
• A tmux Crash Course
• Making tmux Pretty and Usable - A Guide to Customizing your tmux.conf

Ted Sluis
ted.sluis@gmail.com