Tmux Config from Scratch: Mouse, Vim Keys, and Sensible Defaults
A complete, minimal tmux configuration that covers the essentials: mouse support, vim-style navigation, intuitive splits, and a clean status bar. No plugins needed.
The Full Config
# ── Prefix ──────────────────────────────────────────────
unbind C-b
set -g prefix C-a
bind C-a send-prefix
# ── Mouse Support ─────────────────────────────────────
set -g mouse on
# ── Terminal & Colors ─────────────────────────────────
set -g default-terminal "tmux-256color"
set -ag terminal-overrides ",xterm-256color:RGB"
# ── Windows & Panes ───────────────────────────────────
set -g base-index 1
setw -g pane-base-index 1
set -g renumber-windows on
# Intuitive splits (| and - instead of " and %)
bind | split-window -h -c "#{pane_current_path}"
bind - split-window -v -c "#{pane_current_path}"
bind c new-window -c "#{pane_current_path}"
# Reload config with Prefix + r
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display "Config reloaded!"
# ── Navigation ────────────────────────────────────────
bind h select-pane -L
bind j select-pane -D
bind k select-pane -U
bind l select-pane -R
bind -r H resize-pane -L 5
bind -r J resize-pane -D 5
bind -r K resize-pane -U 5
bind -r L resize-pane -R 5
# ── Copy Mode ─────────────────────────────────────────
setw -g mode-keys vi
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi v send-keys -X begin-selection
bind-key -T copy-mode-vi y send-keys -X copy-selection-and-cancel
# ── Status Bar ────────────────────────────────────────
set -g status-interval 5
set -g status-style bg=black,fg=white
set -g status-left "#[fg=green]#{session_name} #[fg=white]| "
set -g status-right "#[fg=cyan]%H:%M #[fg=white]%d-%b-%y"
# ── Misc ──────────────────────────────────────────────
set -g history-limit 50000
set -g escape-time 0
set -g focus-events on
setw -g aggressive-resize onKey Design Decisions
C-a over C-b — Ctrl+a is easier to reach than Ctrl+b (especially on keyboards where b requires a stretch). If you use screen, you’re already used to it.
Mouse on — Click to select panes, drag to resize, scroll with the wheel. Purists disable it; pragmatists enable it. Modern tmux mouse integration doesn’t interfere with terminal selection when you hold Shift.
-c "#{pane_current_path}" — New splits/windows open in the same directory as the current pane. Saves constant cding.
renumber-windows on — Close window 3 in a 5-window session, and windows 4-5 become 3-4. Keeps window numbers contiguous and predictable.
escape-time 0 — Removes the delay after pressing Escape (crucial for vim users). Without this, exiting insert mode feels sluggish.