Agent-Skills.md

Agent Skills: Using tmux for Interactive Commands

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.

UncategorizedID: HTRamsey/claude-config/using-tmux

Repository

HTRamsey/claude-config
HTRamsey
3

Skill Files

Browse the full folder contents for using-tmux.

Download Skill

Loading file tree…

skills/using-tmux/SKILL.md

Skill Metadata

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.

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 |

Related Skills

  • multi-llm: Uses tmux for LLM CLI delegation
  • git-workflow: Interactive git commands (rebase -i, add -p)