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Question: what do people use as their prefix? I started using tmux last week, and although it's mostly been a good experience, I still haven't been able to set

Question: what do people use as their prefix? I started using tmux last week, and although it's mostly been a good experience, I still haven't been able to settle on a good prefix. I find C-a to be a terrible choice because I actually use that for command line navigation, and so in the meantime I've tried settling on C-q, but it just feels awkward at times. (Note that I've remapped Caps Lock to Ctrl.)

6ak74rfy 9y ago
I have been using C-q for many months now, and it works fine for me.
webreac 9y ago
I find also C-a to be a terrible choice. At work, we have screen instead of tmux. I have configured screen to use C-b like tmux default.
vowelless 9y ago
Kind of related, I actually use tmux-modality to add vim style modality to tmux. For this reason, I don't often use the prefix. I switch to "command mode" to do certain operations (resize panes, change windows, etc).
auvrw 9y ago
here's the config to use an emacs-like C-x prefix and xmonad-like joker/klown pane selection https://github.com/ransomw/dotfiles/blob/master/tmux.conf https://github.com/ransomw/dotfiles/blob/master/tmux.conf along with a rant about what terminal multiplexers are in the first place https://github.com/ransomw/dotfiles#tmux https://github.com/ransomw/dotfiles#tmux ... both are wip, suggestions welcome
hetman 9y ago
I've always used C-f. Very comfortable for me but I haven't seen anyone else use it. Importantly it keeps my fingers on the home row keys. I tend to use VIM navigation in my terminal so I don't miss that binding (although there's plenty of other keys in the general vicinity).
LeapingLennie 9y ago
I use C-Space. Easy to type and doesn’t interfere with any readline or vim keybindings.
- psynapse 9y ago
  Same here. I also use space as my Vim leader, so it feels natural.
  - biggerfisch 9y ago
    Same here to both. Only real conflict is with dunst [0] which also likes to use Ctrl-Space by default. [0] https://github.com/dunst-project/dunst https://github.com/dunst-project/dunst
fernandotakai 9y ago
i've been using C-x for a long time now. i feel quite comfortable, specially after mapping caps to control.
alexozer 9y ago
Really not sure what a great prefix for me would be considering my caps lock is escape, not control
skilbjo 9y ago
I use ` as the prefix. For when I install tmux on a remote server and use a nested tmux session: ¡ (alt + 1) is my prefix. My bindings (very happy with them): https://github.com/skilbjo/dotfiles/blob/master/tmux/keybindings.tmux https://github.com/skilbjo/dotfiles/blob/master/tmux/keybind...
graywh 9y ago
Ctrl-_, which is sent by Ctrl + 7 and/or Ctrl + / in most terminals.
totallymike 9y ago
I use C-o. My keyboard layout is set to dvorak, so the o is right next to a, lending similar convenience. I also haven't run into any serious conflicts in Vim, Emacs, or most shell stuff I do.
dxhdr 9y ago
C-q, no conflicts with emacs bindings.
paulv 9y ago
C-] I use both C-a and C-b in bash all the time.
dotancohen 9y ago
It's interesting to see which technologies people _don't_ use by what they bind as their prefix. The `Ctrl-]` guy probably doesn't do C, the `Ctrl-A` guy doesn't use VIM, etc... I guess that is because all the good shortcuts have already been taken!

6ak74rfy 9y ago

I have been using C-q for many months now, and it works fine for me.

webreac 9y ago

I find also C-a to be a terrible choice. At work, we have screen instead of tmux. I have configured screen to use C-b like tmux default.

vowelless 9y ago

Kind of related, I actually use tmux-modality to add vim style modality to tmux. For this reason, I don't often use the prefix. I switch to "command mode" to do certain operations (resize panes, change windows, etc).

auvrw 9y ago

here's the config to use an emacs-like C-x prefix and xmonad-like joker/klown pane selection https://github.com/ransomw/dotfiles/blob/master/tmux.conf https://github.com/ransomw/dotfiles/blob/master/tmux.conf along with a rant about what terminal multiplexers are in the first place https://github.com/ransomw/dotfiles#tmux https://github.com/ransomw/dotfiles#tmux ... both are wip, suggestions welcome

hetman 9y ago

I've always used C-f. Very comfortable for me but I haven't seen anyone else use it. Importantly it keeps my fingers on the home row keys. I tend to use VIM navigation in my terminal so I don't miss that binding (although there's plenty of other keys in the general vicinity).

LeapingLennie 9y ago

I use C-Space. Easy to type and doesn’t interfere with any readline or vim keybindings.

psynapse 9y ago
Same here. I also use space as my Vim leader, so it feels natural.
- biggerfisch 9y ago
  Same here to both. Only real conflict is with dunst [0] which also likes to use Ctrl-Space by default. [0] https://github.com/dunst-project/dunst https://github.com/dunst-project/dunst

fernandotakai 9y ago

i've been using C-x for a long time now. i feel quite comfortable, specially after mapping caps to control.

alexozer 9y ago

Really not sure what a great prefix for me would be considering my caps lock is escape, not control

skilbjo 9y ago

I use ` as the prefix. For when I install tmux on a remote server and use a nested tmux session: ¡ (alt + 1) is my prefix. My bindings (very happy with them): https://github.com/skilbjo/dotfiles/blob/master/tmux/keybindings.tmux https://github.com/skilbjo/dotfiles/blob/master/tmux/keybind...

graywh 9y ago

Ctrl-_, which is sent by Ctrl + 7 and/or Ctrl + / in most terminals.

totallymike 9y ago

I use C-o. My keyboard layout is set to dvorak, so the o is right next to a, lending similar convenience. I also haven't run into any serious conflicts in Vim, Emacs, or most shell stuff I do.

dxhdr 9y ago

C-q, no conflicts with emacs bindings.

paulv 9y ago

C-] I use both C-a and C-b in bash all the time.

dotancohen 9y ago

It's interesting to see which technologies people _don't_ use by what they bind as their prefix. The `Ctrl-]` guy probably doesn't do C, the `Ctrl-A` guy doesn't use VIM, etc... I guess that is because all the good shortcuts have already been taken!