Chapter 1: Learning the Basics

Chapter Overview

Topics covered:

  • Installing tmux

  • Starting tmux

  • The Command Prefix

  • Detaching and Attaching Sessions

  • Working with Windows

  • Working with Panes

  • Working with Command Mode

Key Concepts

tmux Architecture

                    ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
                    │           tmux server               │
                    │  (runs in background, persists)     │
                    └─────────────────────────────────────┘
                                    │
                    ┌───────────────┼───────────────┐
                    ▼               ▼               ▼
              ┌─────────┐    ┌─────────┐    ┌─────────┐
              │ Session │    │ Session │    │ Session │
              │  "dev"  │    │  "ops"  │    │ "notes" │
              └─────────┘    └─────────┘    └─────────┘
                    │
         ┌──────────┼──────────┐
         ▼          ▼          ▼
    ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐
    │ Window │ │ Window │ │ Window │
    │   1    │ │   2    │ │   3    │
    └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘
         │
    ┌────┴────┐
    ▼         ▼
 ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐
 │ Pane │ │ Pane │
 │  1   │ │  2   │
 └──────┘ └──────┘

The Prefix Key

Default prefix: Ctrl+b

Write down what prefix you plan to use in your quantum config:

Planned prefix: _

Commands Learned

Table 1. Session Commands
Command Description Keybinding
Table 2. Window Commands
Command Description Keybinding
Table 3. Pane Commands
Command Description Keybinding

Exercises

Exercise 1.1: Basic Session Management

  1. Start a new tmux session named "practice"

  2. Detach from it

  3. List all sessions

  4. Reattach to it

  5. Kill the session

# Your commands:

Exercise 1.2: Window Navigation

  1. Create 3 windows named: editor, shell, logs

  2. Navigate between them using numbers

  3. Navigate using next/previous

  4. Rename a window

# Your commands:

Exercise 1.3: Pane Layouts

  1. Split current window horizontally

  2. Split one pane vertically

  3. Navigate between panes

  4. Resize a pane

  5. Close a pane

# Your commands:

Notes

Write your observations, insights, and questions here as you read.

Config Ideas

Commands or settings from this chapter to include in quantum config:

# Ideas for dots-quantum/tmux/.config/tmux/tmux.conf

Chapter Completed

  • Read chapter

  • Completed exercises

  • Added commands to quick reference

  • Noted config ideas

Date completed: _