Remote control tmux sessions for interactive CLIs (python, gdb, etc.) by sending keystrokes and scraping pane output.
Installation
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Remote control tmux sessions for interactive CLIs (python, gdb, etc.) by sending keystrokes and scraping pane output.
license
Vibecoded
tmux Skill
Use tmux as a programmable terminal multiplexer for interactive work. Works on Linux and macOS with stock tmux; avoid custom config by using a private socket.
After starting a session ALWAYS tell the user how to monitor the session by giving them a command to copy paste:
To monitor this session yourself:
tmux attach -t python-debug
Or to capture the output once:
tmux capture-pane -p -J -t python-debug.1 -S -200
If using an isolated socket (not in tmux), include -S "$SOCKET":
To monitor this session yourself:
tmux -S "$SOCKET" attach -t python-debug
Or to capture the output once:
tmux -S "$SOCKET" capture-pane -p -J -t python-debug.1 -S -200
This must ALWAYS be printed right after a session was started and once again at the end of the tool loop. But the earlier you send it, the happier the user will be.
Socket convention
Preferred: When running inside tmux (check $TMUX env var), use the current tmux server without -S flag.
Fallback: If not in tmux, agents MUST place tmux sockets under CLAUDE_TMUX_SOCKET_DIR (defaults to ${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/claude-tmux-sockets) and use tmux -S "$SOCKET" so we can enumerate/clean them. Create the dir first: mkdir -p "$CLAUDE_TMUX_SOCKET_DIR".
Default socket path to use unless you must isolate further: SOCKET="$CLAUDE_TMUX_SOCKET_DIR/claude.sock".
Targeting panes and naming
Target format: {session}.{pane}, defaults to {session}.1 if omitted. Use descriptive names (e.g., python-debug, gdb-session, build-test).
Session naming convention: Use descriptive names that indicate the tool and purpose:
python-debug - Python REPL for debugging/calculations
gdb-session - GDB debugger for C/C++/embedded debugging
build-test - Build process or test runner
shell-work - General shell session for file operations
Creating new panes: tmux split-window -h -t "$SESSION" creates a new pane (pane 2). Always target the specific pane when sending commands: tmux send-keys -t "$SESSION".2 -- 'command' Enter
Use -S "$SOCKET" consistently to stay on the private socket path. If you need user config, drop -f /dev/null; otherwise -f /dev/null gives a clean config.
List sessions on your active socket with metadata: ./scripts/find-sessions.sh -S "$SOCKET"; add -q partial-name to filter.
Scan all sockets under the shared directory: ./scripts/find-sessions.sh --all (uses CLAUDE_TMUX_SOCKET_DIR or ${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/claude-tmux-sockets).
Sending input safely
To send a command with Enter (newline): tmux ... send-keys -t target -- 'your command' Enter
The -- separates command from keys, and Enter sends a newline (not literal text)
Always use single quotes around the command to prevent shell expansion and URL truncation
To send literal text without interpretation: tmux ... send-keys -t target -l -- 'literal text'
Use -l flag to send text exactly as-is, useful for special characters
To send text with embedded newline: tmux ... send-keys -t target -l -- $'text\nwith\nnewlines'
Use ANSI-C quoting with -l for embedded newlines
To send control keys: tmux ... send-keys -t target C-c, C-d, C-z, Escape, etc.
Watching output
Capture recent history (joined lines to avoid wrapping artifacts): tmux -L "$SOCKET" capture-pane -p -J -t target -S -200.
For continuous monitoring, poll with the helper script (below) instead of tmux wait-for (which does not watch pane output).
You can also temporarily attach to observe: tmux -L "$SOCKET" attach -t "$SESSION"; detach with Ctrl+b d.
When giving instructions to a user, explicitly print a copy/paste monitor command alongside the action don't assume they remembered the command.
Spawning Processes
Some special rules for processes:
when asked to debug, use lldb by default
when starting a python interactive shell, always set the PYTHON_BASIC_REPL=1 environment variable. This is very important as the non-basic console interferes with your send-keys.
Synchronizing / waiting for prompts
Use timed polling to avoid races with interactive tools. Example: wait for a Python prompt before sending code:
For long-running commands, poll for completion text ("Type quit to exit", "Program exited", etc.) before proceeding.
Interactive tool recipes
Python REPL: tmux ... send-keys -t "$SESSION".1 -- 'python3 -q' Enter; wait for ^>>>; send code with -t "$SESSION".1 -- 'code' Enter; interrupt with C-c. Always with PYTHON_BASIC_REPL.
gdb: tmux ... send-keys -t "$SESSION".1 -- 'gdb --quiet ./a.out' Enter; disable paging tmux ... send-keys -t "$SESSION".1 -- 'set pagination off' Enter; break with C-c; issue bt, info locals, etc.; exit via quit then confirm y.
Other TTY apps (ipdb, psql, mysql, node, bash): same pattern—start the program, poll for its prompt, then send command with -t "$SESSION".1 -- 'command' Enter.
Cleanup
Kill a session when done: tmux -S "$SOCKET" kill-session -t "$SESSION".
Kill all sessions on a socket: tmux -S "$SOCKET" list-sessions -F '#{session_name}' | xargs -r -n1 tmux -S "$SOCKET" kill-session -t.
Remove everything on the private socket: tmux -S "$SOCKET" kill-server.
Helper: wait-for-text.sh
./scripts/wait-for-text.sh polls a pane for a regex (or fixed string) with a timeout. Works on Linux/macOS with bash + tmux + grep.
