cmux-keyboard-shortcuts

name	cmux-keyboard-shortcuts
description	Guide and apply cmux keyboard shortcut customization. Use when the user asks to customize, rebind, unbind, reset, audit, or create shortcut templates for cmux, including tmux-style, Vim-style, terminal-first, browser-heavy, iTerm/Terminal-like, or agent-triage layouts.

cmux-keyboard-shortcuts

Use this skill to turn a user's workflow preferences into cmux shortcut bindings in ~/.config/cmux/cmux.json. It should guide the user, propose compact templates, apply selected changes, and confirm the config parses with recognized keys.

Prerequisites

• Work from a cmux checkout or worktree root when possible.
• Use skills/cmux-settings/scripts/cmux-settings for every read/write. It reads JSONC, writes atomically, and validates JSON plus recognized settings keys.
• For action IDs, read skills/cmux-settings/references/shortcut-actions.md.
• For current defaults, read web/data/cmux-shortcuts.ts or Sources/KeyboardShortcutSettings.swift.

find_cmux_settings() {
  local root
  root="$(git -C "$(pwd)" rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null || pwd)"
  for candidate in \
    "$root/skills/cmux-settings/scripts/cmux-settings" \
    "${CODEX_HOME:-$HOME/.codex}/skills/cmux-settings/scripts/cmux-settings" \
    "$HOME/.agents/skills/cmux-settings/scripts/cmux-settings"; do
    if [[ -x "$candidate" ]]; then
      printf '%s\n' "$candidate"
      return 0
    fi
  done
  return 1
}

if [[ -z "${CMUX_SETTINGS:-}" ]]; then
  CMUX_SETTINGS="$(find_cmux_settings)" || {
    echo "cmux-settings helper not found; run from a cmux checkout or install cmux-settings" >&2
    exit 1
  }
fi

Shortcut Model

• Setting path: shortcuts.bindings.<actionId>.
• Single stroke: "cmd+b".
• Chord: ["ctrl+b","c"]. The first stroke needs a modifier unless the key is Space. The second stroke can be bare.
• Unbind: prefer null for explicit unbinds. "", "none", "clear", "unbound", and "disabled" are accepted aliases, but null is the clearest JSON value and matches the templates below.
• selectSurfaceByNumber and selectWorkspaceByNumber must use a digit from 1 to 9. cmd+1 means the full cmd+1 through cmd+9 family.
• showHideAllWindows and globalSearch are system-wide shortcuts. They cannot be chords, require modifiers, and may be rejected by macOS if reserved.
• showHideAllWindows also requires Settings > Global Hotkey > Enable System-Wide Hotkey. The binding can validate in cmux.json while the feature is disabled, so warn the user to enable that setting before reporting the shortcut as usable.
• unset deletes a cmux.json override. It does not clear shortcut changes saved through the Settings UI/UserDefaults. If the user asks for true built-in defaults, tell them to use Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts > Reset Default Shortcuts after clearing file-managed overrides, then verify in the app. For showHideAllWindows, use Settings > Global Hotkey to restore the shortcut to ctrl+opt+cmd+. because Keyboard Shortcuts > Reset Default Shortcuts intentionally skips the global hotkey.
• Saving cmux.json live reloads. Do not tell the user to restart cmux.

Workflow

1. Classify the request:

   • One-off rebind or unbind: map the phrase to an action ID, apply it, validate, and report the previous and new binding.
   • Audit-only request: inspect current bindings, validate, and summarize overrides/unbound shortcuts without writing.
   • Reset request: clarify whether the user means file-managed overrides or true built-in defaults. For file-managed resets, use unset for named actions. For true built-in defaults, remove file overrides and direct the user to Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts > Reset Default Shortcuts; do not report built-in defaults restored from cmux-settings alone. If showHideAllWindows is included, also direct them to Settings > Global Hotkey to restore ctrl+opt+cmd+. and the enable toggle.
   • Broad customization request: propose 3 to 5 templates from "Preset Templates" and ask the user to choose.
   • Named style such as tmux, Vim, iTerm, browser, or agent triage: select the closest template, show the changed actions and likely collisions, and ask before a bulk apply unless the user explicitly said to apply it.

2. Inspect existing config:

   "$CMUX_SETTINGS" path
   "$CMUX_SETTINGS" get shortcuts.bindings 2>/dev/null || printf '{}\n'
   "$CMUX_SETTINGS" validate
   

3. Before applying a template, snapshot prior values for every action you will change. A path that is absent must revert with unset; a path with an existing custom value must revert with set <same-json-value>.

   "$CMUX_SETTINGS" get shortcuts.bindings.focusLeft 2>/dev/null || printf '<absent>\n'
   

4. Apply only the chosen action paths:

   "$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.newSurface '["ctrl+b","c"]'
   "$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.focusLeft cmd+opt+h
     shortcuts.bindings.sendFeedback null
    validate
   

Preset Templates

Use these as proposal templates. Apply them action by action, not by overwriting the whole shortcuts.bindings object.

Tmux Prefix

For users who want one terminal-style shortcut namespace and accept that ctrl+b starts a cmux chord instead of going directly to the shell.

"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.newSurface '["ctrl+b","c"]'
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.closeTab '["ctrl+b","x"]'
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.nextSurface '["ctrl+b","n"]'
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.prevSurface '["ctrl+b","p"]'
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.selectSurfaceByNumber '["ctrl+b","1"]'
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.splitRight '["ctrl+b","v"]'
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.splitDown '["ctrl+b","s"]'
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.focusLeft '["ctrl+b","h"]'
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.focusDown '["ctrl+b","j"]'
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.focusUp '["ctrl+b","k"]'
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.focusRight '["ctrl+b","l"]'
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.toggleSplitZoom '["ctrl+b","z"]'
""  shortcuts.bindings.toggleTerminalCopyMode 
  shortcuts.bindings.equalizeSplits 

macOS Terminal/iTerm Restore

For users who want surface, split, and tab behavior to feel like common macOS terminals again. These actions already match cmux built-in defaults when no Settings UI override exists, so unset file overrides instead of writing default values.

"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.newSurface
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.closeTab
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.nextSurface
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.prevSurface
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.selectSurfaceByNumber
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.splitRight
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.splitDown
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.toggleSplitZoom
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.toggleTerminalCopyMode
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.renameTab

Vim Pane Navigation

For users who want fast pane movement without a prefix and do not want to depend on arrow keys.

"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.focusLeft cmd+opt+h
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.focusDown cmd+opt+j
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.focusUp cmd+opt+k
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.focusRight cmd+opt+l
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.splitRight cmd+opt+v
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.splitDown cmd+opt+s
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.toggleSplitZoom cmd+opt+z
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.equalizeSplits cmd+opt+=

Agent Triage

For users who live in notifications and want unread handling on one key family. This keeps toggle unread on cmd+opt+u so it can be combined with Vim Pane Navigation without colliding with cmd+opt+j.

"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.showNotifications cmd+u
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.jumpToUnread cmd+j
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.markOldestUnreadAndJumpNext cmd+shift+j
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.toggleUnread cmd+opt+u
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.triggerFlash cmd+shift+h
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.focusRightSidebar cmd+shift+e

Workspace And Surface Lanes

For users who want workspaces and surfaces on distinct number and bracket lanes.

"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.selectWorkspaceByNumber cmd+1
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.selectSurfaceByNumber cmd+opt+1
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.nextSidebarTab 'cmd+opt+]'
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.prevSidebarTab 'cmd+opt+['
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.nextSurface 'cmd+shift+]'
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.prevSurface 'cmd+shift+['

Browser Defaults Restore

For users who changed too much and want embedded-browser behavior to match common macOS browser shortcuts again. Use unset to clear file overrides so future cmux defaults still apply when no Settings UI override exists.

"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.openBrowser
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.focusBrowserAddressBar
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.browserBack
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.browserForward
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.browserReload
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.browserZoomIn
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.browserZoomOut
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.browserZoomReset
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.toggleBrowserDeveloperTools
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.showBrowserJavaScriptConsole
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.find
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.findNext
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.findPrevious

Terminal-First Cleanup

For users who want fewer app-level shortcuts. Prefer unbinding only the actions they name, but this is a reasonable starting proposal.

"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.renameTab null
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.renameWorkspace null
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.editWorkspaceDescription null
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.triggerFlash null
"$CMUX_SETTINGS" set shortcuts.bindings.sendFeedback null

Rules

• Do not edit ~/.config/cmux/settings.json unless the user explicitly asks. It is legacy fallback config.

• Do not overwrite all of shortcuts.bindings unless the user explicitly wants a full replacement.

• Do not invent action IDs. Validate against the schema or shortcut-actions.md.

• Do not apply a broad template without showing the changed actions first unless the user explicitly said to apply that named template.

• Do not promise conflict detection from cmux-settings validate; it validates JSON and supported keys, not shortcut syntax, macOS reservation, or every focus-context conflict.

• Before assigning cmd+[ or cmd+] to application-scoped actions, warn that they collide with common browser Back/Forward behavior unless the browser actions are also changed or unbound.

• Prefer unset to clear file-managed overrides for individual actions. Do not call this a built-in default reset unless Settings UI/UserDefaults values have also been reset:

  "$CMUX_SETTINGS" unset shortcuts.bindings.focusLeft
  "$CMUX_SETTINGS" validate