tmux

# tmux Skill (OpenClaw)

Use tmux only when you need an interactive TTY. Prefer exec background mode for long-running, non-interactive tasks.

## Quickstart (isolated socket, exec tool)

```bash
SOCKET_DIR="${OPENCLAW_TMUX_SOCKET_DIR:-${CLAWDBOT_TMUX_SOCKET_DIR:-${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/openclaw-tmux-sockets}}"
mkdir -p "$SOCKET_DIR"
SOCKET="$SOCKET_DIR/openclaw.sock"
SESSION=openclaw-python

tmux -S "$SOCKET" new -d -s "$SESSION" -n shell
tmux -S "$SOCKET" send-keys -t "$SESSION":0.0 -- 'PYTHON_BASIC_REPL=1 python3 -q' Enter
tmux -S "$SOCKET" capture-pane -p -J -t "$SESSION":0.0 -S -200
```

After starting a session, always print monitor commands:

```
To monitor:
  tmux -S "$SOCKET" attach -t "$SESSION"
  tmux -S "$SOCKET" capture-pane -p -J -t "$SESSION":0.0 -S -200
```

## Socket convention

- Use `OPENCLAW_TMUX_SOCKET_DIR` (legacy `CLAWDBOT_TMUX_SOCKET_DIR` also supported).
- Default socket path: `"$OPENCLAW_TMUX_SOCKET_DIR/openclaw.sock"`.

## Targeting panes and naming

- Target format: `session:window.pane` (defaults to `:0.0`).
- Keep names short; avoid spaces.
- Inspect: `tmux -S "$SOCKET" list-sessions`, `tmux -S "$SOCKET" list-panes -a`.

## Finding sessions

- List sessions on your socket: `{baseDir}/scripts/find-sessions.sh -S "$SOCKET"`.
- Scan all sockets: `{baseDir}/scripts/find-sessions.sh --all` (uses `OPENCLAW_TMUX_SOCKET_DIR`).

## Sending input safely

- Prefer literal sends: `tmux -S "$SOCKET" send-keys -t target -l -- "$cmd"`.
- Control keys: `tmux -S "$SOCKET" send-keys -t target C-c`.

## Watching output

- Capture recent history: `tmux -S "$SOCKET" capture-pane -p -J -t target -S -200`.
- Wait for prompts: `{baseDir}/scripts/wait-for-text.sh -t session:0.0 -p 'pattern'`.
- Attaching is OK; detach with `Ctrl+b d`.

## Spawning processes

- For python REPLs, set `PYTHON_BASIC_REPL=1` (non-basic REPL breaks send-keys flows).

## Windows / WSL

- tmux is supported on macOS/Linux. On Windows, use WSL and install tmux inside WSL.
- This skill is gated to