using-tmux-for-interactive-commands

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Use when you need to run interactive CLI tools (vim, git rebase -i, Python REPL, etc.) that require real-time input/output - provides tmux-based approach for controlling interactive sessions through detached sessions and send-keys

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Sourceovachiever/droid-tings

Added on2026-02-07

NPX Install

npx skill4agent add ovachiever/droid-tings using-tmux-for-interactive-commands

SKILL.md Content

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Using tmux for Interactive Commands

Overview

Interactive CLI tools (vim, interactive git rebase, REPLs, etc.) cannot be controlled through standard bash because they require a real terminal. tmux provides detached sessions that can be controlled programmatically via

send-keys

and

capture-pane

.

When to Use

Use tmux when:

Running vim, nano, or other text editors programmatically
Controlling interactive REPLs (Python, Node, etc.)
Handling interactive git commands (
```
git rebase -i
```
,
```
git add -p
```
)
Working with full-screen terminal apps (htop, etc.)
Commands that require terminal control codes or readline

Don't use for:

Simple non-interactive commands (use regular Bash tool)
Commands that accept input via stdin redirection
One-shot commands that don't need interaction

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`
Stop session	`tmux kill-session -t <name>`
List sessions	`tmux list-sessions`

Core Pattern

Before (Won't Work)

bash

# This hangs because vim expects interactive terminal
bash -c "vim file.txt"

After (Works)

bash

# Create detached tmux session
tmux new-session -d -s edit_session vim file.txt

# Send commands (Enter, Escape are tmux key names)
tmux send-keys -t edit_session 'i' 'Hello World' Escape ':wq' Enter

# Capture what's on screen
tmux capture-pane -t edit_session -p

# Clean up
tmux kill-session -t edit_session

Implementation

Basic Workflow

Create detached session with the interactive command
Wait briefly for initialization (100-500ms depending on command)
Send input using
```
send-keys
```
(can send special keys like Enter, Escape)
Capture output using
```
capture-pane -p
```
to see current screen state
Repeat steps 3-4 as needed
Terminate session when done

Special Keys

Common tmux key names:

```
Enter
```
- Return/newline
```
Escape
```
- ESC key
```
C-c
```
- Ctrl+C
```
C-x
```
- Ctrl+X
```
Up
```
,
```
Down
```
,
```
Left
```
,
```
Right
```
- Arrow keys
```
Space
```
- Space bar
```
BSpace
```
- Backspace

Working Directory

Specify working directory when creating session:

bash

tmux new-session -d -s git_session -c /path/to/repo git rebase -i HEAD~3

Helper Wrapper

For easier use, see

/home/jesse/git/interactive-command/tmux-wrapper.sh

:

bash

# Start session
/path/to/tmux-wrapper.sh start <session-name> <command> [args...]

# Send input
/path/to/tmux-wrapper.sh send <session-name> 'text' Enter

# Capture current state
/path/to/tmux-wrapper.sh capture <session-name>

# Stop
/path/to/tmux-wrapper.sh stop <session-name>

Common Patterns

Python REPL

bash

tmux new-session -d -s python python3 -i
tmux send-keys -t python 'import math' Enter
tmux send-keys -t python 'print(math.pi)' Enter
tmux capture-pane -t python -p  # See output
tmux kill-session -t python

Vim Editing

bash

tmux new-session -d -s vim vim /tmp/file.txt
sleep 0.3  # Wait for vim to start
tmux send-keys -t vim 'i' 'New content' Escape ':wq' Enter
# File is now saved

Interactive Git Rebase

bash

tmux new-session -d -s rebase -c /repo/path git rebase -i HEAD~3
sleep 0.5
tmux capture-pane -t rebase -p  # See rebase editor
# Send commands to modify rebase instructions
tmux send-keys -t rebase 'Down' 'Home' 'squash' Escape
tmux send-keys -t rebase ':wq' Enter

Common Mistakes

Not Waiting After Session Start

Problem: Capturing immediately after

new-session

shows blank screen

Fix: Add brief sleep (100-500ms) before first capture

bash

tmux new-session -d -s sess command
sleep 0.3  # Let command initialize
tmux capture-pane -t sess -p

Forgetting Enter Key

Problem: Commands typed but not executed

Fix: Explicitly send Enter

bash

tmux send-keys -t sess 'print("hello")' Enter  # Note: Enter is separate argument

Using Wrong Key Names

Problem:

tmux send-keys -t sess '\n'

doesn't work

Fix: Use tmux key names:

Enter

, not

\n

bash

tmux send-keys -t sess 'text' Enter  # ✓
tmux send-keys -t sess 'text\n'      # ✗

Not Cleaning Up Sessions

Problem: Orphaned tmux sessions accumulate

Fix: Always kill sessions when done

bash

tmux kill-session -t session_name
# Or check for existing: tmux has-session -t name 2>/dev/null

Real-World Impact

Enables programmatic control of vim/nano for file editing
Allows automation of interactive git workflows (rebase, add -p)
Makes REPL-based testing/debugging possible
Unblocks any tool that requires terminal interaction
No need to build custom PTY management - tmux handles it all

using-tmux-for-interactive-commands

NPX Install

Tags

SKILL.md Content

Using tmux for Interactive Commands

Overview

When to Use

Quick Reference

Core Pattern

Before (Won't Work)

After (Works)

Implementation

Basic Workflow

Special Keys

Working Directory

Helper Wrapper

Common Patterns

Python REPL

Vim Editing

Interactive Git Rebase

Common Mistakes

Not Waiting After Session Start

Forgetting Enter Key

Using Wrong Key Names

Not Cleaning Up Sessions

Real-World Impact