AgentSkillsCN

tmux

介绍如何使用 tmux 启动多个进程、实时监控这些进程，并捕获其输出。适用于在后台运行服务器或长时间运行的任务。

SKILL.md
--- frontmatter
name: tmux
description: Instructions for using tmux to spawn multiple processes, inspect them, and capture their output. Useful for running servers or long-running tasks in the background.
allowed-tools:
  - Bash

Tmux Skill

This skill empowers you to manage multiple concurrent processes (like servers, watchers, or long builds) using tmux directly from the Bash tool.

Since you are likely already running inside a tmux session, you can spawn new windows or panes to handle these tasks without blocking your main communication channel.

1. Verify Environment & Check Status

First, verify you are running inside tmux:

bash
echo $TMUX

If this returns empty, you are not running inside tmux and these commands will not work as expected.

Once verified, check your current windows:

bash
tmux list-windows

2. Spawn a Background Process

To run a command (e.g., a dev server) in a way that persists and can be inspected:

  1. •

    Create a new detached window with a specific name. This keeps it isolated and easy to reference.

    bash
    tmux new-window -n "server-log" -d

    (Replace "server-log" with a relevant name for your task)

  2. •

    Send the command to that window.

    bash
    tmux send-keys -t "server-log" "npm start" C-m

    (C-m simulates the Enter key)

3. Inspect Output (Read Logs)

You can read the output of that pane at any time without switching your context.

Get the current visible screen:

bash
tmux capture-pane -p -t "server-log"

Get the entire history (scrollback):

bash
tmux capture-pane -p -S - -t "server-log"

Use this if the output might have scrolled off the screen.

4. Interact with the Process

If you need to stop or restart the process:

Send Ctrl+C (Interrupt):

bash
tmux send-keys -t "server-log" C-c

Kill the window (Clean up):

bash
tmux kill-window -t "server-log"

5. Advanced: Chaining Commands

You can chain multiple tmux commands in a single invocation using ';' (note the quotes to avoid interpretation by the shell). This is faster and cleaner than running multiple tmux commands.

Example: Create window and start process in one go:

bash
tmux new-window -n "server-log" -d ';' send-keys -t "server-log" "npm start" C-m

Summary of Pattern

  1. •tmux new-window -n "ID" -d
  2. •tmux send-keys -t "ID" "CMD" C-m
  3. •tmux capture-pane -p -t "ID"