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SPECIFICTION
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openmux

github.com

Free plan macOSLinuxSelf-hosted
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Spec score 8.2 #5 of 29 in Terminal Multiplexers

What it is

openmux is a terminal multiplexer for Linux and macOS, with vertical, horizontal, and stacked pane layouts and nine workspaces. Each workspace can keep its own pane arrangement. Vim-style hjkl navigation and a Ctrl+b prefix provide two ways to control panes. Sessions preserve workspace layouts and pane working directories; users can detach while a background shim keeps running, then reattach from another client. The project also offers an aggregate PTY browser for filtering and previewing terminals by process, directory, or Git branch. Terminal features include mouse tracking, scrollback, pane zoom, and Kitty graphics support for image rendering, pixel sizing, and SSH-aware offloading. Its CLI handles session and pane operations such as creating sessions, splitting panes, sending text, capturing output, and listing sessions as JSON. Configuration changes for layout, theme, and keybindings hot-reload while openmux is running. The MIT-licensed project is listed at free. Installation options include a curl script, npm, Bun, source build, or prebuilt binaries for macOS Apple Silicon and Linux x64 or arm64.

Spec sheet

Product
openmux is a terminal multiplexer with a master-stack layout, described as Zellij-style.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Intended users
The README presents openmux as a terminal multiplexer and compares its behavior and architecture with tmux and Zellij.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Platforms
The README lists prebuilt binaries for macOS Apple Silicon and Linux x64 / arm64.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security
The repository page shows zero security advisories.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
The repository identifies the software as MIT licensed.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Available binaries
The README lists macOS Apple Silicon and Linux x64 or arm64 as release platforms.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
CLI
The headless-style CLI supports session and pane operations; pane commands require a running UI with a control socket available.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Configuration
Configuration changes for layout, theme, and keybindings hot-reload while openmux is running.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
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.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Installation
The project documents installation via curl, npm, Bun, source build, and GitHub release binaries.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Layout
It offers vertical, horizontal, and stacked pane layouts, with gaps and borders.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Layouts and workspaces
It offers vertical, horizontal, and stacked layouts across nine workspaces with isolated pane layouts.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maintainer
The GitHub profile identifies the maintainer as Tom and describes him as an open source builder.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Navigation
It supports Vim-style hjkl navigation and a Tmux-style Ctrl+b prefix key.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
PTY browser
An aggregate view lets users browse, filter, and preview PTYs across workspaces, including directory, process name, and git branch information.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
PTY browsing
Its aggregate view lets users browse and filter PTYs across workspaces by process name, directory, or Git branch, with interactive previews.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Sessions
Sessions persist workspace layouts and pane working directories, and are auto-saved under ~/.config/openmux/sessions/.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Terminal features
It includes mouse tracking, scrollback support, pane zoom, and Kitty graphics protocol support.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Terminal graphics
It supports the Kitty graphics protocol for image rendering, pixel sizing, and SSH-aware offloading.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Workspaces
It supports nine workspaces, each with its own pane layout.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

openmux Free MIT-licensed software · macOS Apple Silicon · Linux x64 / arm64 Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every openmux plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Nine workspaces with separate pane layouts.
  • Sessions preserve layouts and working directories.
  • PTY browser filters and previews terminals.
  • Layout, theme, and keybinding changes hot-reload.
  • MIT-licensed and listed as free.

Limits

  • Release binaries are listed for macOS Apple Silicon and Linux only.
  • A new client detaches the previous client.
  • Sessions and persistence are local.

Who it suits

openmux suits terminal users on Linux or macOS who want persistent sessions, multiple workspaces, and pane-based workflows. Its CLI operations and PTY browser may also suit users who manage many terminal processes.

Verdict

openmux combines persistent terminal sessions with multiple pane layouts, PTY browsing, and CLI controls. Check the supported release platforms and single-client attachment behavior against your workflow.

Where Specifiction places it

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