How to Use and Install Tmux on WSL2 Ubuntu

Tmux is a powerful terminal multiplexer that allows you to manage multiple terminal sessions within a single window. It's particularly useful for remote work and development environments, as it enables you to run and switch between multiple applications in one terminal. For users running Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2) with an Ubuntu distribution, Tmux can greatly enhance productivity and workflow efficiency. This article will guide you through the installation and basic usage of Tmux on WSL2 Ubuntu.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

1. Windows 10 or 11 with WSL2 enabled.
2. An Ubuntu distribution installed on WSL2.

Installing Tmux on WSL2 Ubuntu

Follow these steps to install Tmux on your WSL2 Ubuntu system:

1. Update Package List
   Open your WSL2 Ubuntu terminal and update your package list to ensure you have the latest package information:

   sudo apt update

2. Install Tmux
   Install Tmux using the apt package manager:

   sudo apt install tmux

3. Verify Installation
   After installation, verify that Tmux is installed correctly by checking its version:

   tmux -V

You should see output similar to tmux 3.0a or another version number, indicating Tmux is installed.

Basic Usage of Tmux

Once Tmux is installed, you can start using it to manage your terminal sessions. Here are some basic commands and concepts to get you started:

1. Start a New Tmux Session
   To start a new Tmux session, simply type:

   tmux

This will open a new session with a single window.

2. Create a Named Session
   You can create a session with a specific name to make it easier to identify:

   tmux new -s session_name

3. Detach from a Session
   You can detach from a Tmux session, leaving it running in the background, by pressing Ctrl + b, then d.
4. List Sessions
   To list all running Tmux sessions, use:

   tmux ls

5. Reattach to a Session
   To reattach to a detached session, use:

   tmux attach -t session_name

6. Split Windows
   Tmux allows you to split your terminal window into multiple panes:

• Split horizontally: Ctrl + b, then %
• Split vertically: Ctrl + b, then "

6. Navigate Between Panes
   To move between panes, use the following commands:

• Move to the next pane: Ctrl + b, then o
• Move to a specific direction: Ctrl + b, then arrow keys

6. Create New Windows
   You can create new windows within a session:

   Ctrl + b, then c

Switch between windows with:

   Ctrl + b, then n (next)
   Ctrl + b, then p (previous)

Customizing Tmux

Tmux is highly customizable through a configuration file. You can create or edit a Tmux configuration file located at ~/.tmux.conf. Here are a few useful configurations:

# Set prefix key to Ctrl + a
unbind C-b
set-option -g prefix C-a
bind-key C-a send-prefix

# Enable mouse mode
set -g mouse on

# Use vi key bindings in copy mode
setw -g mode-keys vi

After editing your configuration file, you can reload it without restarting Tmux by using:

tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf

Conclusion

Tmux is an essential tool for developers and system administrators who need to manage multiple terminal sessions efficiently. By installing Tmux on WSL2 Ubuntu, you can enhance your productivity and streamline your workflow. With the basic commands and configurations covered in this article, you should be well on your way to mastering Tmux and making the most out of your terminal sessions.

Happy Tmuxing!