# Tmux

> Use tmux instead of bash tool to run commands that take more than ~30 seconds, like bulk operations, db migrations, dev servers.

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-dnouri-ai-config-tmux`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [dnouri](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/dnouri)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Agent Skills](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/agent-skills)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [dnouri](https://github.com/dnouri)
- **Source:** https://github.com/dnouri/ai-config/tree/master/skills/tmux

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-dnouri-ai-config-tmux
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# tmux for Long-Running Processes

Use tmux for any process that needs to run independently (dev servers, background tasks, long-running scripts). Do **not** use `nohup`, `&`, or other backgrounding techniques with the bash tool.

## Start a Process

```bash
tmux new-session -d -s  ' > /tmp/pi-tmux-.log 2>&1'
```

**Naming:** Use descriptive names like `dev-server`, `build-kernel`, `test-run`.

**Examples:**
```bash
# Simple command
tmux new-session -d -s dev-server 'npm run dev > /tmp/pi-tmux-dev-server.log 2>&1'

# Compound commands - use braces to capture all output
tmux new-session -d -s build '{ npm install && npm run build; } > /tmp/pi-tmux-build.log 2>&1'
```

## User Visibility (Required)

Immediately after starting a tmux session, always print copy/paste commands so the user can monitor it:

```bash
# Live monitoring (interactive)
tmux attach -t 
# detach with: Ctrl+b d

# One-shot capture (good for quick checks)
tmux capture-pane -p -J -t  -S -200

# Stream redirected logs (if configured)
tail -f /tmp/pi-tmux-.log
```

Do not assume the user remembers how to inspect the session. Always provide these commands near the action.

## List Sessions

```bash
tmux ls
```

## Read Output

**For long-running processes**, use log files (these persist even after the process exits):
```bash
# Read with the read tool
/tmp/pi-tmux-.log

# Or tail for recent output
tail -100 /tmp/pi-tmux-.log
```

**For interactive tools** (REPLs, prompts), use joined output plus explicit history depth:
```bash
# Preferred default: clean output from the last 200 lines
tmux capture-pane -p -J -t  -S -200

# Increase history depth when debugging harder failures
tmux capture-pane -p -J -t  -S -1000
```

Use `-J` to reduce wrapped-line artifacts and `-S -N` to make capture scope explicit/repeatable.
Allow ~0.5 seconds after starting a session before reading output.

## Stop a Session

```bash
tmux kill-session -t 
```

## Send Input (Safe Patterns)

For interactive sessions, prefer literal sends so text is passed exactly as intended:

```bash
# Send literal text as-is
tmux send-keys -t  -l -- "input text"
# press Enter separately
tmux send-keys -t  Enter
```

When text includes `$`, quotes, or shell metacharacters, use shell quoting so your local shell does not rewrite the payload:

```bash
tmux send-keys -t  -l -- 'python3 -c "print(\"$HOME should stay literal\")"'
tmux send-keys -t  Enter

# Alternative for explicit escapes/newlines
tmux send-keys -t  -l -- $'line1\nline2'
```

For control/navigation keys, send key names (not escape sequences):

```bash
tmux send-keys -t  C-c
tmux send-keys -t  C-d
tmux send-keys -t  Escape
tmux send-keys -t  Up
tmux send-keys -t  Down
```

**Rule of thumb:** use `-l` for literal text, key names for control keys, and `Enter` as a separate argument (not `"text\n"`).

## Wait for Prompt / Synchronize

Interactive CLIs are race-prone. Before sending follow-up input, wait for a prompt or completion marker.

```bash
# Wait for a Python prompt (regex)
./scripts/wait-for-text.sh -t :0.0 -p '^>>> ' -T 15 -l 4000

# Wait for an exact completion message
./scripts/wait-for-text.sh -t :0.0 -p 'Server started' -F -T 30
```

Use this helper whenever command ordering matters (REPLs, debuggers, installers, login flows).
On timeout, the script prints recent pane output to stderr to help debug what went wrong.

## Rules

1. **Always redirect output** to `/tmp/pi-tmux-.log` so you can read it later
2. **Use descriptive session names** - they're easier to manage than PIDs
3. **Check `tmux ls`** before creating sessions to avoid name conflicts
4. **Always print user monitor commands** right after starting a session (`attach`, `capture-pane`, and optionally `tail -f`)
5. **Prefer safe input sending**: literal text with `send-keys -l --`, then send `Enter`/control keys separately
6. **Prefer explicit pane capture** for interactive output: `capture-pane -p -J -S -N` (start with `-S -200`)
7. **Synchronize interactive flows** with `./scripts/wait-for-text.sh` before sending follow-up commands
8. **Always clean up**: kill sessions without asking; remove log files at your own discretion

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [dnouri](https://github.com/dnouri)
- **Source:** [dnouri/ai-config](https://github.com/dnouri/ai-config)
- **License:** MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-dnouri-ai-config-tmux
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/dnouri
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

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Listed on AgentStack — the marketplace for AI agent skills and MCP servers. Every listing is security-reviewed. Creators keep 70%.