# psmux — Native tmux for Windows PowerShell and Terminal

> A high-performance terminal multiplexer for Windows built in Rust. Provides tmux-style panes, windows, and sessions natively in PowerShell and Windows Terminal.

## Install

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# psmux — Native tmux for Windows PowerShell and Terminal

## Quick Use
```powershell
# Install via cargo
cargo install psmux
# Or via Scoop
scoop install psmux
# Start a new session
psmux
```

## Introduction
psmux brings tmux-style terminal multiplexing to Windows natively. Built in Rust, it provides split panes, multiple windows, and persistent sessions directly in PowerShell, Windows Terminal, and cmd.exe without requiring WSL or Cygwin.

## What psmux Does
- Splits the terminal into multiple panes horizontally and vertically
- Manages multiple windows within a single terminal session
- Persists sessions that survive terminal disconnects
- Provides tmux-compatible keybindings for easy adoption
- Runs natively on Windows without WSL or Unix compatibility layers

## Architecture Overview
psmux is implemented in Rust using the Windows Console API and ConPTY for pseudo-terminal support. Each pane runs an independent shell process with its own I/O streams. The multiplexer manages rendering, input routing, and session state in a single lightweight process. Session persistence uses named pipes for client-server communication.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Install via cargo: `cargo install psmux`
- Or install via Scoop package manager
- Configure keybindings in `~/.psmux/config.toml`
- Set default shell (PowerShell, cmd, or pwsh) in config
- Customize status bar appearance and colors

## Key Features
- Native Windows terminal multiplexer with no Unix dependencies
- tmux-compatible keybindings for muscle memory transfer
- Session persistence across terminal disconnects
- Works in PowerShell, Windows Terminal, and cmd.exe
- Lightweight single binary with fast startup

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **tmux** — Unix only; psmux brings the same workflow to native Windows
- **Windows Terminal tabs** — Basic tabs only; psmux adds split panes and session persistence
- **Zellij** — Cross-platform but requires WSL on Windows; psmux is native
- **Screen** — Unix terminal multiplexer; psmux is its Windows-native equivalent

## FAQ
**Q: Does it work without Windows Terminal?**
A: Yes, psmux works in any Windows console including cmd.exe and ConEmu, though Windows Terminal provides the best rendering.

**Q: Are tmux keybindings supported?**
A: Yes, the default keybindings mirror tmux. You can customize them in the config file.

**Q: Can I use it with WSL?**
A: psmux is designed for native Windows shells. For WSL, use tmux directly inside the Linux environment.

**Q: Does it support mouse interactions?**
A: Yes, mouse support for pane selection and resizing is available in compatible terminals.

## Sources
- https://github.com/psmux/psmux

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Author: AI Open Source