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openmux
What it is
openmux is a free, MIT-licensed terminal multiplexer for Linux and macOS, with a master-stack layout and command-line controls. It arranges terminals in vertical, horizontal, or stacked panes, with gaps and borders, and provides nine workspaces with separate pane layouts. Users can move between panes with Vim-style hjkl keys or use a tmux-style Ctrl+b prefix. Sessions retain workspace layouts and pane working directories; users can detach while a background shim continues running and reattach from another client. A new client takes a single-client lock and detaches the previous client. The aggregate PTY browser lets users filter and preview terminals across workspaces by process name, directory, or Git branch. Other listed features include mouse tracking, scrollback, pane zoom, and Kitty graphics support for images, pixel sizing, and SSH-aware offloading. The CLI can create sessions, split panes, send text, capture output, and list sessions as JSON. Layout, theme, and keybinding changes can hot-reload while openmux runs. Installation options include a curl script, npm, Bun, source build, and prebuilt binaries.
For and against
For
- Nine workspaces with independent pane layouts
- Sessions preserve layouts and working directories
- PTY browser filters and previews across workspaces
- Configuration changes hot-reload
- MIT-licensed with several installation options
Against
- Release binaries are listed only for macOS Apple Silicon and Linux x64 or arm64
- Attaching a new client detaches the previous client
- Persistence is local
The verdict
openmux combines multi-pane layouts, workspaces, persistent sessions, and terminal controls in a free command-line tool. Its listed release binaries target macOS Apple Silicon and Linux x64 or arm64.
Who it suits
openmux suits terminal users on macOS Apple Silicon or Linux who want multiple pane layouts and persistent sessions. Its CLI also supports session and pane operations.
Plans and prices
openmux
MIT-licensed software · macOS Apple Silicon · Linux x64 / arm64
Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Available binaries
- The README lists macOS Apple Silicon and Linux x64 or arm64 as release platforms.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- CLI
- The headless-style CLI supports session and pane operations; pane commands require a running UI with a control socket available.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Configuration
- Configuration changes for layout, theme, and keybindings hot-reload while openmux is running.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Detach and attach
- Users can detach while leaving the background shim running; attaching from a new client takes the single-client lock and detaches the old client.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The project documents installation via curl, npm, Bun, source build, and GitHub release binaries.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The README presents openmux as a terminal multiplexer and compares its behavior and architecture with tmux and Zellij.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Layout
- It offers vertical, horizontal, and stacked pane layouts, with gaps and borders.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Layouts and workspaces
- It offers vertical, horizontal, and stacked layouts across nine workspaces with isolated pane layouts.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository identifies the software as MIT licensed.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- The GitHub profile identifies the maintainer as Tom and describes him as an open source builder.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Navigation
- It supports Vim-style hjkl navigation and a Tmux-style Ctrl+b prefix key.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- openmux is a terminal multiplexer with a master-stack layout, described as Zellij-style.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- PTY browser
- An aggregate view lets users browse, filter, and preview PTYs across workspaces, including directory, process name, and git branch information.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- PTY browsing
- Its aggregate view lets users browse and filter PTYs across workspaces by process name, directory, or Git branch, with interactive previews.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Security
- The repository page shows zero security advisories.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Sessions
- Sessions persist workspace layouts and pane working directories, and are auto-saved under ~/.config/openmux/sessions/.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Terminal features
- It includes mouse tracking, scrollback support, pane zoom, and Kitty graphics protocol support.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Terminal graphics
- It supports the Kitty graphics protocol for image rendering, pixel sizing, and SSH-aware offloading.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
