Remote working has come a long way, and so have related solutions. One such solution is Tmux, which is a terminal multiplexer. In simple words, the tool allows users to create pseudo terminals from a single one, which can be quite useful for running multiple programs within a singular connection. It is very useful when you are running a VM using SSH.
It is quite powerful as users can detach themselves while the terminals will remain active in the background. Given its usefulness, we have created a comprehensive guide on installing Tmux on multiple Linux distributions, using different methods. Take a look.
Table of Contents
What is Tmux?
As we mentioned, Tmux is a terminal multiplexer. But it is saying nothing unless you know what a multiplexer is. So, a terminal multiplexer is a command-line utility. It allows users to manage multiple terminal sessions in a single terminal window without leaving the interface.
Thus, Tmux, as a terminal multiplexer, can create multiple shell sessions in your system. These shell sessions are capable of running separately.
Tmux offers several benefits, especially with remote connections. It can manage multiple terminals on the local machine from a window manager. Furthermore, other features and services are being offered, such as:
Features of Tmux
- Handle multiple sessions at once.
- Sessions can be detached and reattached without terminating sessions.
- A window management
- Windows can be split into multiple resizable sections.
- Monitors multiple processes
- Highly customizable and offers key binding
- Automatic layouts
- Panel synchronization
- And, script ability
How to Install Tmux On Linux?
Now, let us proceed toward installing Tmux on a Linux system, including all the various Linux distributions. Here’s how:
Method 1. Compiling Tmux From Source
First, we can build Tmux from source, although it is not recommended for beginners. So, you can go to the GitHub website, search for Tmux, download the package, then run the following commands:
cd tmux<VERSION>
./configure
make
sudo make installOr, you can directly clone it from GitHub:
For this, you need to ensure there are a few dependencies already installed on your system, if not, you need to install them.
Step 1. Start by installing the relevant dependencies:
sudo apt-get install -y libevent-dev libncurses-dev makeStep 2. Then, clone the source file from Git:
wget https://github.com/tmux/tmux/releases/download/3.2a/tmux-3.2a.tar.gzStep 3. Run the TAR command to package it.
tar xvzf tmux-3.2a.tar.gzStep 4. Now locate the package:
cd tmux-3.2aStep 5. Configure the package:
./configureStep 6. Use MAKE command to install it:
make
sudo make installMethod 2. Using Nixpkgs (Nix Package Manager)
Nix is a package manager and build system for Linux allowing users to focus on declarative packages. It is a unique package management and system configuration tool that makes installing applications much easier on Linux or other UNIX-based systems.
You can also use the Nix package manager to install Tmux. However, you do not need to install NixOS. Simply, fetch the package manager and install it directly.
Solution 1. Global Installation:
If you want the global version run the following command:
sh <(curl -L https://nixos.org/nix/install) --daemonSolution 2. Local Installation:
If you are only going to use it on a local machine, you can also prefer the following version:
sh <(curl -L https://nixos.org/nix/install) --no-daemonOnce Nixpkgs is installed, you can use it to install Tmux:
nix-env -iA nixpkgs.tmuxMethod 3. Install Tmux on Linux using Tarball
Tarball is basically an archive of files, just like ZIP or RAR. Thus, you can unpack Tarball to compile applications.
Similar to the first method, you can incorporate Tarball to compile Tmux from source under two different circumstances, such as:
Case 1. When the Required Libraries are Available in The Native Repository:
Step 1. Run the following command to install the dependencies:
If you are running Debian/Ubuntu:
apt-get install libevent ncursesIf you are running RHEL/CentOS:
yum install libevent ncursesStep 2. Then Build Tmux:
tar -zxf tmux-*.tar.gzStep 3. Locate the correct directory
cd tmux-*/YOUR/DIRECTORYStep 4. Configure and make it:
./configure
make Step 5. Finally, install it to compile the package:
sudo make installsudo make installCase 2. The Required Dependencies are not built Natively
Start by building the dependencies from the source in case they are not available on the respective repositories:
Step 1. First, build libevent:
tar -zxf libevent-*.tar.gz
cd libevent-*/
./configure --prefix=$HOME/local --enable-shared
make
sudo make installStep 2. Then, build ncurses
tar -zxf ncurses-*.tar.gz
cd ncurses-*/
./configure --prefix=$HOME/local --with-shared --with-termlib --enable-pc-files --with-pkg-config-libdir=$HOME/local/lib/pkgconfig
make
sudo make installFinally, configure Tmux, but be sure to point it to the correct directory:
tar -zxf tmux-*.tar.gz
cd tmux-*/
PKG_CONFIG_PATH=$HOME/local/lib/pkgconfig ./configure --prefix=$HOME/local
make
sudo make installMethod 4. Install Tmux on Linux Using Docker
Docker is an open-source platform for developing, shipping, and running applications on Linux systems. It allows users to separate applications from native Linux infrastructure so that it can deliver software quickly. Thus, with Docker, you can manage your Linux system and install applications with easy, by relying on OS-level virtualization.
Tmux is also supported as a Docker image. So you can install it using Docker. Here’s how:
Step 1. First, install Docker. For this, you need to set up Docker’s apt repository.
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ca-certificates curl
sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
sudo curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc
sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.ascStep 2. Now add it to your APT repository:
echo \
"deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu \
$(. /etc/os-release && echo "$VERSION_CODENAME") stable" | \
sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null
sudo apt-get updateStep 3. Then install Docker:
sudo apt-get install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-pluginNow. you can use either AppImage or a Docker Image to install Tmux:
Solution 1. Using AppImage
Just run the following command to get the latest tmux.appimage build:
curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/nelsonenzo/tmux-appimage/releases/latest \
| grep "browser_download_url.*appimage" \
| cut -d : -f 2,3 \
| tr -d \" \
| wget -qi - \
&& chmod +x tmux.appimageOr, you can build it on your own:
Solution 2. Build it yourself from the source code
git clone https://github.com/nelsonenzo/tmux-appimage.git
cd tmux-appimage
export TMUX_RELEASE_TAG=3.2a
docker build . -t tmux --build-arg TMUX_RELEASE_TAG=$TMUX_RELEASE_TAG
docker create -ti --name tmuxcontainer tmux bash
docker cp tmuxcontainer:/opt/build/tmux.appimage .
docker rm -f tmuxcontainer
ls -al tmux.appimageMethod 5. Using Native Linux Repositories
Finally, after all these solutions, we have to confess that, Tmux is more likely already available on your Linux distro’s native repository. So, for the most simple of installation, get it directly from there.
Just run the following commands in your system’s command terminal for a quick installation of Tmux:
For Debian or Ubuntu Users:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install tmuxFor Fedora Users:
sudo dnf update
sudo dnf install tmuxThose who have openSUSE:
sudo zypper install tmuxFor Arch Linux users:
sudo pacman -S tmux -noconfirmFor CentOS/RHEL:
sudo yum update
sudo yum install tmuxThat’s all. For more guides on Linux and its various distros, do visit our website.
