How to join two tmux windows into one, as panes?

2 min read 09-10-2024

How to join two tmux windows into one, as panes?

Tmux is a powerful terminal multiplexer that allows users to manage multiple terminal sessions from a single window. One of its most useful features is the ability to split windows into panes. This article will guide you on how to join two tmux windows into one, effectively merging them into a single pane setup.

Understanding the Problem

Joining two tmux windows into one pane might seem challenging at first. You may have multiple terminal sessions open and want to view them side by side for a more cohesive workspace. This can enhance productivity, especially when monitoring logs or running simultaneous commands.

The Scenario

Imagine you have two tmux windows open:

Window 1 running a web server.
Window 2 running a client application that interacts with that server.

You want to join these two windows so that you can see both the server output and the client interaction in one unified view.

Original Code

By default, tmux does not provide a direct command to join windows as panes. However, you can achieve this by using a combination of commands. Below is a step-by-step guide to accomplish this.

Step-by-Step Guide to Joining Two Tmux Windows as Panes

Open Tmux Session: If you haven’t already, start a tmux session by executing:
```
tmux
```
Create Two Windows: Within the tmux session, create two windows (if they aren’t already) by using:
```
Ctrl + b, c
```
Do this twice to have two separate windows.
List Windows: Check which window you are in and list the current windows by pressing:
```
Ctrl + b, w
```
Select the First Window: Switch to the first window (for instance, Window 1) by using:
```
Ctrl + b, <window_number>
```
Split the Window: Split the current window into two panes using:
```
Ctrl + b, %
```
This command creates a vertical split.
Navigate to the Pane: Use:
```
Ctrl + b, arrow keys
```
to navigate to the other pane.
Reattach Window Content: In the new pane, you need to send commands or attach the content from the second window:
```
Ctrl + b, :
```
Then type:
```
attach-window -t <session_name>:<window_number>
```
Replace <session_name> with your session's name and <window_number> with the second window’s number.
Resize Panes (Optional): If needed, resize the panes by holding down Ctrl + b, followed by the : key, and typing in:
```
resize-pane -L <number_of_lines>
```
Adjust the number based on your preference.

Unique Insights

Using tmux efficiently can significantly boost productivity in terminal operations. By merging windows into panes, you can monitor logs, scripts, and output side by side without constantly switching between different windows. This ability can be particularly advantageous for developers, system administrators, or anyone who requires multitasking capabilities in their terminal.

Example Use Case

Consider a developer debugging an application. With one pane showing the application logs and another executing test scripts, they can quickly identify and troubleshoot issues as they arise without losing focus or context.

Conclusion

Joining two tmux windows into one as panes is a straightforward process that allows for improved terminal management. With just a few commands, you can create an organized workspace that enhances productivity.

References & Additional Resources

With these insights, you now have the tools to effectively manage your terminal sessions using tmux. Enjoy your productive coding sessions!