Using tmux for Interactive Commands

Interactive CLI tools (vim, REPLs, interactive git, etc.) require a real terminal — use tmux detached sessions controlled via send-keys/capture-pane.

When to use

Use: vim/nano, REPLs (Python, Node), git rebase -i, git add -p, full-screen TUIs, readline-dependent commands.
Don't use: non-interactive commands, commands accepting stdin redirection.

Quick Reference

Task	Command
Start	tmux new-session -d -s <name> <cmd>
Send input	tmux send-keys -t <name> 'text' Enter
Capture	tmux capture-pane -t <name> -p
Stop	tmux kill-session -t <name>

Core Pattern

tmux new-session -d -s edit vim file.txt
sleep 0.3  # wait for init
tmux send-keys -t edit 'i' 'Hello World' Escape ':wq' Enter
tmux capture-pane -t edit -p
tmux kill-session -t edit

Special Keys

Enter, Escape, C-c, C-x, Up, Down, Left, Right, Space, BSpace

With working directory

tmux new-session -d -s rebase -c /repo/path git rebase -i HEAD~3

Common Patterns

Python REPL:

tmux new-session -d -s py python3 -i
tmux send-keys -t py 'import math' Enter
tmux send-keys -t py 'print(math.pi)' Enter
tmux capture-pane -t py -p
tmux kill-session -t py

Interactive git rebase:

tmux new-session -d -s rebase -c /repo git rebase -i HEAD~3
sleep 0.5
tmux capture-pane -t rebase -p
tmux send-keys -t rebase ':wq' Enter

Gotchas

• Blank capture: Add sleep 0.3 after new-session before first capture
• Command not executed: Must send Enter explicitly as a separate argument
• Wrong key names: Use Enter not \n; Escape not \e
• Orphaned sessions: Always tmux kill-session -t <name> when done