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Migrating from tmuxinator

Why migrate to tmux-resurrect?

Here are some reasons why you'd want to migrate from tmuxinator to tmux-resurrect:

  • Less dependencies
    tmuxinator depends on ruby which can be a hassle to set up if you're not a rubyist.
    tmux-resurrect depends just on bash which is virtually omnipresent.

  • Simplicity
    tmuxinator has an executable, CLI interface with half dozen commands and command completion.
    tmux-resurrect defines just 2 tmux key bindings.

  • No configuration
    tmuxinator is all about config files (and their constant updating).
    tmux-resurrect requires no configuration to work.

  • Better change handling
    When you make a change to any aspect of tmux layout, you also have to update related tmuxinator project file (and test to make sure change is ok).
    With tmux-resurrect there's nothing to do: your change will be remembered on the next save.

How to migrate?

  1. Install tmux-resurrect.
  2. Open *all* existing tmuxinator projects.
    Verify all projects are open by pressing prefix + s and checking they are all on the list.
  3. Perform a tmux-resurrect save.

That's it! You can continue using just tmux-resurrect should you choose so.

Note: it probably makes no sense to use both tools at the same time as they do the same thing (creating tmux environment for you to work in). Technically however, there should be no issues.

Usage differences

tmuxinator focuses on managing individual tmux sessions (projects). tmux-resurrect keeps track of the *whole* tmux environment: all sessions are saved and restored together.

A couple tips if you decide to switch to tmux-resurrect:

  • Keep all tmux sessions (projects) running all the time.
    If you want to work on an existing project, you should be able to just *switch* to an already open session using prefix + s.
    This is different from tmuxinator where you'd usually run mux new [project] in order to start working on something.

  • No need to kill sessions with tmux kill-session (unless you really don't want to work on it ever).
    It's the recurring theme by now: just keep all the sessions running all the time. This is convenient and also cheap in terms of resources.

  • The only 2 situations when you need tmux-resurrect:

    1. Save tmux environment just before restarting/shutting down your computer.
    2. Restore tmux env after you turn the computer on.

Other questions?

Still have questions? Feel free to open an issue. We'll try to answer it and also update this doc.