After a few years in tmux, I actually moved back to just iterm2 (I'm always on osx). There are many new Iterm2 features over the last few years that make tmux unecessary IMO.
- Iterm2 can now restore sessions, even partially after a reboot (attempts to recreate workspaces). This was the main benefit of tmux for me.
- Iterm2 can also have a visual mode to browse your scrollback buffer, and there are some shortcuts similar to vim. This was the second main benefit of tmux for me.
- It's less keybindings to remember and configure.
- Iterm2 can better size your split panes. You can also change text size per pane. Useful for wide text.
- A bunch of other things that iterm2 does better when tmux is not open. Autocomplete. Paste history. Instant replay. Some of these are quite gimmicky TBH, but could be useful for some.
- Text, colors, etc... appear sharper without tmux. I think. There are antialiasing configs you can mess around with in Iterm2 at least.
- Shell integration. Jump to your last shell prompts in scrollback. Highlight all your prompts in all your panes.
Then move to those panes with your mouse without clicking. Amazing.
Don't forget about iterm2's tmux integration. It makes both local tmux and tmux over ssh appear like regular tmux panes. No more bizarre keybindings and tmux configs - it just works.
> Text, colors, etc... appear sharper without tmux.
The renderer is the same, iTerm2 just gets its data stream from tmux rather that from the program running in tmux. There is no difference in the display.
If you're disconnected from the server while some program is running, this program will receive HUP signal. I don't really like this fact and that's the only reason I'm using tmux for any important programs.
- Iterm2 can now restore sessions, even partially after a reboot (attempts to recreate workspaces). This was the main benefit of tmux for me.
- Iterm2 can also have a visual mode to browse your scrollback buffer, and there are some shortcuts similar to vim. This was the second main benefit of tmux for me.
- It's less keybindings to remember and configure.
- Iterm2 can better size your split panes. You can also change text size per pane. Useful for wide text.
- A bunch of other things that iterm2 does better when tmux is not open. Autocomplete. Paste history. Instant replay. Some of these are quite gimmicky TBH, but could be useful for some.
- Text, colors, etc... appear sharper without tmux. I think. There are antialiasing configs you can mess around with in Iterm2 at least.
- Shell integration. Jump to your last shell prompts in scrollback. Highlight all your prompts in all your panes. Then move to those panes with your mouse without clicking. Amazing.