Tmux-IDE: Open-Source Agent-First Terminal IDE with ide.yml Config

2026-03-18T18:51:05.000Z·1 min read

Tmux-IDE is an open-source tool that turns any project into a tmux-powered terminal IDE using a simple ide.yml configuration file. It auto-detects your stack, sets up multi-pane layouts for editors, dev servers, and tests, and includes built-in support for Claude Code agent teams.

Tmux-IDE is a new open-source tool that transforms any project into a fully configured tmux-based terminal IDE using a single ide.yml configuration file. It's designed with AI coding agents in mind.

Quick Start

npm install -g tmux-ide
tmux-ide init          # Scaffold ide.yml (auto-detects your stack)
tmux-ide               # Launch the IDE
tmux-ide stop          # Kill the session
tmux-ide restart       # Stop and relaunch
tmux-ide attach        # Reattach to a running session

How It Works

Define your IDE layout in YAML:

name: my-project
before: pnpm install    # optional pre-launch hook
rows:
  - size: 70%
    panes:
      - title: Editor
        command: vim
        size: 60%
        dir: apps/web
        focus: true
      - title: Shell
  - size: 30%
    panes:
      - title: Dev Server
        command: pnpm dev
      - title: Tests
        command: pnpm test
theme:
  accent: colour75
  border: colour238
  bg: colour235

Agent-First Design

The "agent-first" label means it's built with AI coding workflows in mind:

Claude Code integration — global install automatically registers a bundled Claude Code skill and enables CLAUDE_CODE_EXPERIMENTAL_AGENT_TEAMS=1
Multi-pane layouts — gives agents structured environments with clear separation of concerns
AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md — project includes agent context files for AI assistants
Pre-launch hooks — automated setup before the IDE starts

Built-in Features

Auto-detection of project stack (Node.js, Python, etc.)
Per-pane working directories and environment variables
Custom color themes
Session inspection and diagnostics (tmux-ide doctor, tmux-ide validate)
Project template system (tmux-ide init --template <name>)

Who It's For

Developers who live in the terminal and want a reproducible, shareable IDE configuration — especially those working with AI coding agents like Claude Code that benefit from structured multi-pane environments.

Source: GitHub - wavyrai/tmux-ide | HN Discussion

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