iterm2-skill_skill

Overview

This skill provides practical expertise for iTerm2 terminal emulator and tmux multiplexer on macOS. It condenses keyboard shortcuts, configuration tips, tmux integration steps, and productivity workflows to speed up terminal work. Use it to optimize pane/window workflows, set up persistent sessions, and troubleshoot tmux integration with iTerm2.

How this skill works

The skill inspects user intent for iTerm2, tmux, terminal sessions, split panes, window management, or macOS terminal productivity and returns targeted guidance. For workflow execution it emits a short notification for observability and prints a user-visible status line indicating which workflow is running. It provides concrete commands, keyboard shortcuts, and step-by-step actions for setup, session management, and troubleshooting.

When to use it

• You want to split and navigate panes in iTerm2 efficiently
• You need to set up tmux to persist sessions across SSH disconnects
• You want native iTerm2 <-> tmux integration (tmux -CC)
• You need quick troubleshooting for tmux or session reattachment
• You want a compact reference of iTerm2 and tmux shortcuts

Best practices

• Use iTerm2 shortcuts (Cmd+D, Cmd+Shift+D, Cmd+Option+Arrow) to manage panes quickly
• Run tmux with control mode (tmux -CC) to let iTerm2 manage tmux windows natively
• Create named tmux sessions (tmux new -s name) for predictable reattachment
• Keep a small .tmux.conf with sensible defaults for splits, copy mode, and prefix remapping
• Detach with Ctrl+b d before disconnecting and reattach with tmux attach -t name

Example use cases

• Split a terminal vertically (Cmd+D) and horizontally (Cmd+Shift+D) and navigate with Cmd+Option+Arrow
• Set up tmux integration: configure tmux, start with tmux -CC, then use iTerm2 windows as tmux windows
• Create persistent remote session: ssh -> tmux new -s work -> disconnect -> reattach with tmux attach -t work
• Troubleshoot a non-responsive tmux: check tmux ls, kill/stale sessions, and verify .tmux.conf syntax
• Maximize a frequently used pane (Cmd+Shift+Enter) for focused work and restore layout afterward