Tmux MCP Server

Overview

The Tmux MCP Server bridges the gap between AI assistants and the powerful terminal multiplexer tmux. By exposing tmux sessions, windows, panes, and command execution as MCP resources and tools, Claude Desktop can read, control, and observe terminal content in real time. This eliminates the need for manual copy‑paste or screen sharing when working with long‑running processes, debugging sessions, or remote servers. Developers gain a seamless way to incorporate terminal state into AI workflows—letting the assistant query logs, run diagnostics, or orchestrate complex shell scripts without leaving the chat interface.

What It Solves

In modern development, many tasks are performed inside nested terminal windows: continuous integration logs, database consoles, or interactive REPLs. Inspecting these outputs from an AI assistant traditionally required external tools or manual screenshots. Tmux MCP automates this interaction, providing a programmatic API that can list sessions, capture pane content, and execute commands. The result is a single source of truth that the assistant can interrogate or manipulate, dramatically reducing context switching and human error.

Core Capabilities

• Session Management – List, create, or kill tmux sessions and windows.
• Pane Interaction – Capture the current text in any pane, split panes with configurable dimensions, and close them when no longer needed.
• Command Execution – Run arbitrary shell commands inside a pane and retrieve their output, including exit status.
• Resource Exposure – Each session, window, pane, and command result is exposed as a distinct MCP resource (, , etc.), enabling fine‑grained access.
• Toolset – A collection of intuitive tools (, , ) that can be invoked directly from the assistant, simplifying common workflows.

Real‑World Use Cases

• Debugging Live Services – An assistant can monitor a server’s log pane, trigger a restart command, and report back the result without user intervention.
• Automated Testing – Run test suites inside dedicated tmux panes, capture the output, and surface failures in natural language.
• Remote Development – When working on a VM or container, the assistant can manage terminal sessions, allowing developers to focus on code rather than SSH juggling.
• Continuous Integration – Integrate with CI pipelines to display build logs and run post‑build commands directly within the chat.

Integration with AI Workflows

Because Tmux MCP adheres to the MCP specification, it plugs directly into Claude Desktop’s existing tool ecosystem. Developers can embed pane content into prompts, let the assistant suggest shell commands based on current output, or orchestrate multi‑pane workflows—all while maintaining a single, consistent context. The ability to execute commands safely (with a warning about risk) empowers developers to let the AI take concrete actions, reducing repetitive manual steps and accelerating iteration.

By turning terminal sessions into first‑class AI resources, the Tmux MCP Server provides a powerful, low‑friction bridge between human intent and shell execution. It streamlines debugging, automation, and remote collaboration, making it an indispensable tool for developers who rely on AI assistants to augment their command‑line workflows.