My Tmux Setup: A Developer's Productivity Multiplier

Tmux has been a game-changer for my terminal workflow. If you’re still juggling multiple terminal windows or tabs, let me show you how I’ve configured tmux to make terminal work actually enjoyable.

What is Tmux?

Tmux (terminal multiplexer) lets you:

• Split your terminal into multiple panes
• Create and switch between windows
• Detach sessions and reattach later (even after SSH disconnects)
• Keep processes running in the background

Think of it as a window manager for your terminal.

My Configuration

The Prefix Key

The first thing I changed was the prefix key. Tmux uses Ctrl+b by default, but that’s awkward to reach. I use:

set -g prefix C-s

Ctrl+s is much more comfortable—your pinky stays on Ctrl while your ring finger hits S.

Mouse Support

Yes, I use the mouse in tmux. Fight me.

set -g mouse on

This lets you:

• Click to select panes
• Drag to resize panes
• Scroll through history
• Select text (hold Shift for native terminal selection)

VIM-Style Navigation

Moving between panes with arrow keys is slow. I use vim-style bindings:

bind-key h select-pane -L
bind-key j select-pane -D
bind-key k select-pane -U
bind-key l select-pane -R

Now prefix + h/j/k/l moves left/down/up/right.

Window Numbering from 1

By default, tmux starts window numbering at 0. But your keyboard has 1-9 in a row, with 0 off to the side. Starting at 1 makes jumping to windows more intuitive:

set -g base-index 1

Status Bar at the Top

I prefer the status bar at the top—it’s closer to where my eyes naturally look:

set-option -g status-position top

Quick Config Reload

When tweaking your config, you don’t want to restart tmux every time:

unbind r
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display-message "Config reloaded..."

Now prefix + r reloads the config instantly.

Plugins I Use

I use TPM (Tmux Plugin Manager) to manage plugins:

set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tpm'
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-sensible'
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-prefix-highlight'
set -g @plugin 'pschmitt/tmux-ssh-split'
set -g @plugin 'catppuccin/tmux'

tmux-sensible

Sensible defaults that should be built-in. Includes things like longer history, better key bindings, and faster key repetition.

tmux-prefix-highlight

Shows in your status bar when the prefix key is active. Helpful when you’re not sure if tmux registered your keypress.

tmux-ssh-split

This is a killer plugin. When you’re SSH’d into a remote server and split a pane, it automatically SSH’s into the same server in the new pane. No more typing SSH commands repeatedly.

set-option -g @ssh-split-keep-cwd "true"
set-option -g @ssh-split-keep-remote-cwd "true"
set-option -g @ssh-split-h-key "|"
set-option -g @ssh-split-v-key "A"

Catppuccin Theme

A beautiful, easy-on-the-eyes theme. I configure it to show the window index, name, and current path:

set -g @catppuccin_window_default_text "#I:#W #{b:pane_current_path}"
set -g @catppuccin_window_current_text "#I:#W #{b:pane_current_path}"

Essential Commands

SSH Split Commands

When you’re SSH’d into a remote server, these custom bindings create a new split that automatically connects to the same server:

This is a huge time saver—no more typing ssh user@host repeatedly.

Scrolling

One thing that confuses tmux beginners: how do you scroll up to see previous output?

With mouse (easiest):

• Just scroll with your mouse wheel/trackpad
• In split panes: click the pane first, then scroll

With keyboard:

1. prefix + [ → Enter copy mode
2. Use arrow keys, Page Up/Down, or k/j to scroll
3. q → Exit copy mode

In split panes with keyboard:

1. prefix + h/j/k/l → Navigate to the pane you want
2. prefix + [ → Enter copy mode
3. Scroll around
4. q → Exit copy mode

The Full Config

Here’s my complete ~/.tmux.conf:

# Plugin Manager
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tpm'
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-sensible'
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-prefix-highlight'
set -g @plugin 'pschmitt/tmux-ssh-split'
set -g @plugin 'catppuccin/tmux'
 
# Mouse support
set -g mouse on
bind -T copy-mode-vi Enter send-keys -X copy-pipe-and-cancel "reattach-to-user-namespace pbcopy"
 
# Key bindings for arrow keys
setw -g xterm-keys on
 
# SSH split configuration
set-option -g @ssh-split-keep-cwd "true"
set-option -g @ssh-split-keep-remote-cwd "true"
set-option -g @ssh-split-h-key "|"
set-option -g @ssh-split-v-key "A"
set-option -g @ssh-split-w-key "C"
 
# Shell and prefix
set -g default-command /bin/zsh
set -g prefix C-s
 
# Status bar at top
set-option -g status-position top
 
# VIM-style pane navigation
bind-key h select-pane -L
bind-key j select-pane -D
bind-key k select-pane -U
bind-key l select-pane -R
 
# Quick reload
unbind r
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display-message "Config reloaded..."
 
# Catppuccin theme
set -g @catppuccin_window_default_text "#I:#W #{b:pane_current_path}"
set -g @catppuccin_window_current_text "#I:#W #{b:pane_current_path}"
 
# Start windows at 1
set -g base-index 1
 
# Initialize TPM (keep at bottom)
run '~/.tmux/plugins/tpm/tpm'

Getting Started

1. Install tmux: brew install tmux
2. Install TPM: git clone https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tpm ~/.tmux/plugins/tpm
3. Copy the config above to ~/.tmux.conf
4. Start tmux: tmux
5. Install plugins: prefix + I (capital I)

Tmux took me from “drowning in terminal tabs” to “everything organized and persistent.” The learning curve is worth it. Start with the basics, add features as you need them, and soon you won’t be able to work without it.