Why do we need multiple tmux Panes?

Many terminal users find it challenging to easily manage multiple tasks concurrently. For example, suppose you are running tests for your application and also need to keep an eye on system resources. Tmux simplifies this by splitting the panes. Now you can run tests in one pane while monitoring system resources in the other.

Another example: Let’s say you are working on a web development project, and you need to run various commands to manage your project, such as running a version control system like Git managing dependencies with npm, and monitoring server logs. tmux panes can be valuable in this situation. You can have one pane for running Git commands or managing dependencies with npm and another for monitoring server logs. This way, you can easily switch between these tasks without needing to open multiple terminal windows or tabs.

tmux, or Terminal Multiplexer is a command-line tool for managing multiple terminal sessions in one window. It’s beneficial for developers and system administrators, offering features like splitting the terminal into panes, creating sessions with windows and panes, customization, scripting, and remote access. Users can organize tasks efficiently, customize their environment, and automate repetitive tasks. tmux is particularly useful for remote work, allowing detachment and reattachment to sessions. It’s initiated by typing ‘tmux’ in a terminal, with commands for creating panes, and windows, and customizing the environment.

One of its important features is the ability to split the terminal into panes, allowing users to handle multiple tasks at the same time within the same window. This article provides a step-by-step guide on opening and managing multiple panes in tmux.