My personal tmux.conf.

README.md

README

This is my personal tmux.conf file.

What it does

It's better appreciated if you look at the preview here

Essentials

• Sets the terminal/tab/window title to display session, window, pane, program, and host info.
• Forces 256-color support in tmux for better colors.
• Monitors activity in inactive panes (on by default), so you get notified (e.g., color/bell) if other panes have output.
• Alt/Option + Arrow keys allow fast pane switching.
• Tabs/windows are numbered starting from 1 (not 0).
• Longer scrollback/history is enabled (up to 100,000 lines).

Mouse Support

• Mouse support is enabled, letting you click to select panes, resize, scroll, and change tabs/windows.
• Scroll wheel over a pane either scrolls or triggers pane/copy mode, depending on if text is selected.

Design/Appearance

• Colors and styles are customized heavily for a modern look (with Tailwind-inspired palettes).
• Status bar is at the bottom, left-justified.
• Clock mode & selection/copy mode are custom colored.
• Pane borders are colored (inactive is dark, active is red).
• Status bar uses gray-blue colors: easy on the eyes, good contrast.
• Left side: shows the name of the current tmux session.
• Right side: shows the time and the host name.
• Tabs (windows):
  • Selected tab: rounded, bold, highly visible.
  • Normal tab: muted, with a minimalist divider.
  • Tabs with activity/bell: colored amber/yellow for urgency.
• Messages (showing command output, errors) are styled in bold with prominent contrast.

Other Notables

• Suitable for both local and SSH/multi-host work (shows host in status bar).
• Encourages using tmux in 256-color mode for a richer experience.
• Designed for readability and productivity, especially when using many panes/windows.

tmux.conf

# tmux Config by jerieljan

#########################################################                                                    
#                                                       #
#   ,d                                                  #
#   88                                                  #
#  MM88MMM 88,dPYba,,adPYba,  88       88 8b,     ,d8   #
#   88    88P'   "88"    "8a 88       88  `Y8, ,8P'     #
#   88    88      88      88 88       88    )888(       #
#   88,   88      88      88 "8a,   ,a88  ,d8" "8b,     #
#   "Y888 88      88      88  `"YbbdP'Y8 8P'     `Y8    #
#########################################################                                                   

################
## ESSENTIALS ##
################

# Set terminal title bar format.
set-option -g set-titles on
set-option -g set-titles-string 'tmux #S:#I.#P #W [#H]' # <window>:<tab>.<pane> <program> [host]

# Use 256 colors.
# You'll want to add in `alias tmux="tmux -2"` on your bashrc/zshrc too.
# set -g default-terminal "screen-256color" # For older versions (< 2.1)
set -g default-terminal "xterm-256color"
# set -g default-terminal "tmux-256color" # For newer versions

# Some defaults on bel / flash behavior.
setw -g monitor-activity on # Enabling this will trigger a color change and bell when changes are detected in a different pane.
# set -g visual-activity on # Enabling this will flash the statusbar instead of playing the PC tone / bell.

# Enable pane switching with Opt/Alt+ArrowKeys
bind -n M-Left select-pane -L
bind -n M-Right select-pane -R
bind -n M-Up select-pane -U
bind -n M-Down select-pane -D

# Start tab counts on index 1 instead of zero.
set -g base-index 1

# Enable longer scrollback / history.
set -g history-limit 100000

######################
## MOUSE SUPPORT    ##
######################

## Depending on your environment, you may want to enable/disable this since tmux
## will complain if you're running on a headless system.

# Enable mouse support.
set -g mouse on

# Move between tabs using the mousewheel.
bind -n WheelUpPane if-shell -F -t = "#{mouse_any_flag}" "send-keys -M" "if -Ft= '#{pane_in_mode}' 'send-keys -M' 'select-pane -t=; copy-mode -e; send-keys -M'"
bind -n WheelDownPane select-pane -t= \; send-keys -M


######################
### DESIGN CHANGES ###
######################

## This section is best viewed in vim since it'll indicate 
## colour codes if it's enabled there.

# Modes
set -g clock-mode-colour colour5
setw -g mode-style fg=colour1,bg=colour23,bold

# Panes
set -g pane-border-style fg=colour23
set -g pane-active-border-style fg=colour9

# Status Bar - Position
set -g status-position bottom
set -g status-justify left

# Status Bar - General
# Color Info: Tailwind Slate 300 + 700

set -g status-style fg="#cbd5e1",bg="#334155",dim
set -g status-right-length 50
set -g status-left-length 20

# Status Bar Contents

## There are multiple options here.

# :: Left Padding - Current Session Name
set -g status-left ' #S :: '

# :: Complete Date
# set -g status-right '#[fg=colour233,bg=colour8,bold] %Y-%m-%d #[fg=colour233,bg=colour8,bold] %H:%M:%S '

# :: Hostname + Time
set -g status-right '#[none] %H:%M #[bold] #h '


# Window / Tab Contents

## These affect the looks of the tabs, and how they behave when they're selected or not.

# Selected
# Color Info: Tailwind Slate 800 + 400
setw -g window-status-current-style fg="#1e293b",bg="#94a3b8",bold
setw -g window-status-current-format '[#I‣#W]'

# Normal
# Color Info: Tailwind Slate 300 + 600
setw -g window-status-style fg="#cbd5e1",bg="#475569",none
setw -g window-status-format '|#I᠅#W|'

# Activity and Bell
# Color Info: Tailwind Amber 300 + 600
setw -g window-status-bell-style fg="#fcd34d",bg="#d97706",bold
setw -g window-status-activity-style fg="#fcd34d",bg="#d97706",bold
 
# Messages

set -g message-style fg=colour255,bg=colour238,bold