Using Screen and Tmux

Introduction

The screen and tmux programs are terminal multiplexers that allow users to access multiple terminal sessions inside a single window. They are particularly useful for managing multiple sessions, detaching and reattaching sessions, and ensuring long-running processes continue even if the connection drops.

Installing Screen and Tmux

First, you need to install screen and tmux. They can be installed using the package manager of your system. For example:

Basic Usage of Screen

To start screen, simply type:

This will create a new screen session. You can create a named session by using:

You can detach from a screen session by pressing Ctrl+a followed by d. To list all screen sessions, use:

To reattach to a screen session, use:

Basic Usage of Tmux

To start tmux, simply type:

This will create a new tmux session. You can create a named session by using:

You can detach from a tmux session by pressing Ctrl+b followed by d. To list all tmux sessions, use:

To reattach to a tmux session, use:

Advanced Commands and Features

Screen

Here are some advanced commands and features for screen:

• Splitting Windows: Press Ctrl+a followed by S to split the screen horizontally. Use Ctrl+a followed by | to split vertically.
• Switching Regions: Use Ctrl+a followed by Tab to switch between regions.
• Creating Windows: Press Ctrl+a followed by c to create a new window.
• Switching Windows: Use Ctrl+a followed by n to switch to the next window, and Ctrl+a followed by p to switch to the previous window.

Tmux

Here are some advanced commands and features for tmux:

• Splitting Panes: Press Ctrl+b followed by % to split the screen vertically, and Ctrl+b followed by " to split horizontally.
• Switching Panes: Use Ctrl+b followed by the arrow keys to switch between panes.
• Creating Windows: Press Ctrl+b followed by c to create a new window.
• Switching Windows: Use Ctrl+b followed by n to switch to the next window, and Ctrl+b followed by p to switch to the previous window.
• Renaming Windows: Press Ctrl+b followed by , and then type the new name for the window.

Conclusion

Both screen and tmux are powerful tools for managing terminal sessions. They allow you to run multiple sessions, detach and reattach sessions, and ensure that long-running processes continue even if your connection drops. While they have similar functionalities, tmux is generally considered to be more modern and feature-rich. However, the choice between the two often comes down to personal preference and specific use cases.