# cmux Layout Control

Places and navigates windows, workspaces, and panes in a multi-pane cmux layout.

- Repository: https://github.com/manaflow-ai/cmux (28635 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: see repository
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add manaflow-ai/cmux --skill cmux -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add manaflow-ai/cmux --skill cmux -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add manaflow-ai/cmux --skill cmux -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add manaflow-ai/cmux --skill cmux -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

End-user control of cmux topology and routing (windows, workspaces, panes/surfaces, focus, moves, reorder, identify, trigger flash). Use when automation needs deterministic placement and navigation in a multi-pane cmux layout.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# cmux Core Control

Non-browser cmux topology and routing.

- **Window**: top-level macOS cmux window.
- **Workspace**: tab-like group within a window.
- **Pane**: split container in a workspace.
- **Surface**: a tab within a pane (terminal or browser panel).

## Fast start

```bash
cmux identify --json                              # current caller context
cmux list-windows / list-workspaces / list-panes
cmux list-pane-surfaces --pane pane:1
cmux new-workspace
cmux new-split right --surface surface:1
cmux new-split down --command "npm run dev"       # new terminal runs the command in a live shell
cmux move-surface --surface surface:7 --pane pane:2 --focus true
cmux split-off --surface surface:7 right
cmux reorder-surface --surface surface:7 --before surface:3

# workspace context-menu actions (color, description, rename, pin, ...)
cmux workspace-action --action set-color --color Blue
cmux workspace-action --action set-description --description "Ship checklist"

# attention cue
cmux trigger-flash --surface surface:7
```

## Handle model

Output defaults to short refs (`window:N`, `workspace:N`, `pane:N`, `surface:N`). UUIDs are accepted as input; request UUID output only when needed with `--id-format uuids|both`.

## Initial command on new terminals

`new-workspace`, `new-split`, `new-pane`, and `new-surface` accept `--command <text>`. cmux starts the terminal's normal interactive shell and delivers the text plus one Enter at spawn time, so the command runs immediately and the shell stays alive after it exits. No follow-up `send` or `send-key enter` is needed, and the text is passed literally (quoting, `&&`, pipes, and `$VARS` are interpreted by the new shell). The flag is terminal-only: it is rejected with `--type browser|simulator|agent-session`, blank text is ignored, and `new-workspace --layout` ignores it because layout surfaces define their own commands. Details: [references/panes-surfaces.md](references/panes-surfaces.md).

## Settings

The rest: https://github.com/manaflow-ai/cmux/blob/HEAD/skills/cmux/SKILL.md