{"slug": "zmx", "name": "zmx", "category": "terminal", "category_name": "Terminal and shell", "description": "Terminal session persistence tool for detaching and reattaching processes, built on libghostty.", "recommenders": 5, "commenters": 8, "warners": 0, "score": 4.605, "rising": -1.64, "first": "2026-04-13", "latest": "2026-10-14", "why": "HN commenters like zmx for detaching from and reattaching to terminal processes, with libghostty restoring scrollback history and terminal state.", "why_is_quote": false, "has_verdict": true, "sentiment": {"recommend": 5, "neutral": 2, "compare": 2, "warn": 0}, "spark": [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, 1, 2, 0, 0, 0], "listed": true, "loved": ["Attach and detach", "Restores terminal state"], "caveat": "Repainting bugs", "short_quote": "It's still a bit buggy (screen repainting) but quite pleasant to use with ghostty.", "icon": true, "domain": null, "github_repo": "github.com/neurosnap/zmx", "official_url": "https://zmx.sh/", "pricing": "open source", "aliases": ["zmx"], "verdict": [{"text": "HN commenters like zmx for detaching from and reattaching to terminal processes,", "cites": [{"id": 781254401, "item_id": 48828400, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48828400", "by": "lemontheme", "date": "2026-07-07", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Whenever I need a process I can reattach to I wrap it in zmx.", "excerpt": "If you do most of your work on a central server and treat your other devices as thin clients, then (afaik) Tmux/Zellij are the way to go \u2013 not to mention if you want to multiplayer with colleagues. (I know Wezterm has remote session multiplexing in beta, but I\u2019d be surprised if you can re-attach from a different machine.) Lately I\u2019ve been experimenting with embracing the total scriptability of my favorite terminal, K", "context": "", "use_case": "persistent processes", "switched_from": "", "story": "Herdr: One terminal to rule them all"}, {"id": 784420256, "item_id": 49026266, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49026266", "by": "qudat", "date": "2026-07-23", "stance": "compare", "quote": "did you consider building on top of https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx which also does attach/detach and uses libghostty?", "excerpt": "Neat! I'm curious, did you consider building on top of https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx which also does attach/detach and uses libghostty?", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal session attach/detach", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: Remux \u2013 an open-source tmux workspace designed for iPhone"}, {"id": 771535268, "item_id": 48220954, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48220954", "by": "kloud", "date": "2026-05-21", "stance": "compare", "quote": "libghostty-based zmx being a modern implementation", "excerpt": "Cool project, I like the idea of having tmux-compatible CLI. I used Zellij to get better UX, but many agent tools integrate with tmux. This way agent tools can still integrate tmux as a defacto standard for programmatic interface while having better interface for users. But I wonder if tmux/rmux design is suboptimal since it couples session persistence and window management together. Do you have an opinion the design", "context": "", "use_case": "session persistence", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: Rmux \u2013 A programmable terminal multiplexer with a Playwright-style SDK"}]}, {"text": " with libghostty restoring scrollback history and terminal state.", "cites": [{"id": 764172608, "item_id": 47760788, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47760788", "by": "qudat", "date": "2026-04-13", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It uses libghostty to restore scrollback history and terminal state.", "excerpt": "Check out: https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx It uses libghostty to restore scrollback history and terminal state.", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal session restore", "switched_from": "", "story": "Make Tmux Pretty and Usable"}, {"id": 775976736, "item_id": 48498546, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48498546", "by": "ac29", "date": "2026-06-11", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Been using zmx for a few months and love it", "excerpt": "Been using zmx for a few months and love it: https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx/ Very similar, based on libghostty", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal multiplexing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: Boo \u2013 screen-style terminal multiplexer built on libghostty"}]}, {"text": " The one reported complaint is that it is still a bit buggy,", "cites": [{"id": 764083584, "item_id": 47755224, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47755224", "by": "senderista", "date": "2026-04-13", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It's still a bit buggy (screen repainting) but quite pleasant to use with ghostty.", "excerpt": "I have been using zmx for the last 2 weeks. It's still a bit buggy (screen repainting) but quite pleasant to use with ghostty. https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal session management", "switched_from": "", "story": "Make Tmux Pretty and Usable"}]}, {"text": " specifically with screen repainting.", "cites": [{"id": 764083584, "item_id": 47755224, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47755224", "by": "senderista", "date": "2026-04-13", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It's still a bit buggy (screen repainting) but quite pleasant to use with ghostty.", "excerpt": "I have been using zmx for the last 2 weeks. It's still a bit buggy (screen repainting) but quite pleasant to use with ghostty. https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal session management", "switched_from": "", "story": "Make Tmux Pretty and Usable"}]}], "praise": [{"label": "Attach and detach", "summary": "Lets users wrap a process so they can reattach to it later.", "quotes": [{"id": 781254401, "item_id": 48828400, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48828400", "by": "lemontheme", "date": "2026-07-07", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Whenever I need a process I can reattach to I wrap it in zmx.", "excerpt": "If you do most of your work on a central server and treat your other devices as thin clients, then (afaik) Tmux/Zellij are the way to go \u2013 not to mention if you want to multiplayer with colleagues. (I know Wezterm has remote session multiplexing in beta, but I\u2019d be surprised if you can re-attach from a different machine.) Lately I\u2019ve been experimenting with embracing the total scriptability of my favorite terminal, K", "context": "", "use_case": "persistent processes", "switched_from": "", "story": "Herdr: One terminal to rule them all"}, {"id": 784420256, "item_id": 49026266, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49026266", "by": "qudat", "date": "2026-07-23", "stance": "compare", "quote": "did you consider building on top of https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx which also does attach/detach and uses libghostty?", "excerpt": "Neat! I'm curious, did you consider building on top of https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx which also does attach/detach and uses libghostty?", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal session attach/detach", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: Remux \u2013 an open-source tmux workspace designed for iPhone"}, {"id": 771535268, "item_id": 48220954, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48220954", "by": "kloud", "date": "2026-05-21", "stance": "compare", "quote": "libghostty-based zmx being a modern implementation", "excerpt": "Cool project, I like the idea of having tmux-compatible CLI. I used Zellij to get better UX, but many agent tools integrate with tmux. This way agent tools can still integrate tmux as a defacto standard for programmatic interface while having better interface for users. But I wonder if tmux/rmux design is suboptimal since it couples session persistence and window management together. Do you have an opinion the design", "context": "", "use_case": "session persistence", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: Rmux \u2013 A programmable terminal multiplexer with a Playwright-style SDK"}]}, {"label": "Restores terminal state", "summary": "Uses libghostty to restore scrollback history and terminal state.", "quotes": [{"id": 764172608, "item_id": 47760788, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47760788", "by": "qudat", "date": "2026-04-13", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It uses libghostty to restore scrollback history and terminal state.", "excerpt": "Check out: https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx It uses libghostty to restore scrollback history and terminal state.", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal session restore", "switched_from": "", "story": "Make Tmux Pretty and Usable"}, {"id": 775976736, "item_id": 48498546, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48498546", "by": "ac29", "date": "2026-06-11", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Been using zmx for a few months and love it", "excerpt": "Been using zmx for a few months and love it: https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx/ Very similar, based on libghostty", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal multiplexing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: Boo \u2013 screen-style terminal multiplexer built on libghostty"}, {"id": 771535268, "item_id": 48220954, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48220954", "by": "kloud", "date": "2026-05-21", "stance": "compare", "quote": "libghostty-based zmx being a modern implementation", "excerpt": "Cool project, I like the idea of having tmux-compatible CLI. I used Zellij to get better UX, but many agent tools integrate with tmux. This way agent tools can still integrate tmux as a defacto standard for programmatic interface while having better interface for users. But I wonder if tmux/rmux design is suboptimal since it couples session persistence and window management together. Do you have an opinion the design", "context": "", "use_case": "session persistence", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: Rmux \u2013 A programmable terminal multiplexer with a Playwright-style SDK"}]}, {"label": "Works with Ghostty", "summary": "Described as pleasant to use alongside the Ghostty terminal.", "quotes": [{"id": 764083584, "item_id": 47755224, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47755224", "by": "senderista", "date": "2026-04-13", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It's still a bit buggy (screen repainting) but quite pleasant to use with ghostty.", "excerpt": "I have been using zmx for the last 2 weeks. It's still a bit buggy (screen repainting) but quite pleasant to use with ghostty. https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal session management", "switched_from": "", "story": "Make Tmux Pretty and Usable"}, {"id": 775976736, "item_id": 48498546, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48498546", "by": "ac29", "date": "2026-06-11", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Been using zmx for a few months and love it", "excerpt": "Been using zmx for a few months and love it: https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx/ Very similar, based on libghostty", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal multiplexing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: Boo \u2013 screen-style terminal multiplexer built on libghostty"}]}, {"label": "Focused design", "summary": "Cited as a modern tool that handles session persistence separately from window management.", "quotes": [{"id": 771535268, "item_id": 48220954, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48220954", "by": "kloud", "date": "2026-05-21", "stance": "compare", "quote": "libghostty-based zmx being a modern implementation", "excerpt": "Cool project, I like the idea of having tmux-compatible CLI. I used Zellij to get better UX, but many agent tools integrate with tmux. This way agent tools can still integrate tmux as a defacto standard for programmatic interface while having better interface for users. But I wonder if tmux/rmux design is suboptimal since it couples session persistence and window management together. Do you have an opinion the design", "context": "", "use_case": "session persistence", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: Rmux \u2013 A programmable terminal multiplexer with a Playwright-style SDK"}]}], "caveats": [{"label": "Repainting bugs", "summary": "One user found it still a bit buggy with screen repainting.", "quotes": [{"id": 764083584, "item_id": 47755224, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47755224", "by": "senderista", "date": "2026-04-13", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It's still a bit buggy (screen repainting) but quite pleasant to use with ghostty.", "excerpt": "I have been using zmx for the last 2 weeks. It's still a bit buggy (screen repainting) but quite pleasant to use with ghostty. https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal session management", "switched_from": "", "story": "Make Tmux Pretty and Usable"}]}], "who": [], "tags": ["for Ghostty users", "tmux alternative", "for coding agent workflows"], "use_cases": ["session persistence", "terminal multiplexer", "terminal session attach/detach", "persistent processes", "terminal multiplexing", "terminal session restore"], "compared": [{"slug": "tmux", "name": "tmux", "co": 7, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}, {"slug": "zellij", "name": "Zellij", "co": 3, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}], "makers": [], "threads": [{"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48756578", "title": "Herdr: One terminal to rule them all", "mentions": 2}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47752819", "title": "Make Tmux Pretty and Usable", "mentions": 2}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50080836", "title": "Show HN: Mosh-rs, Mosh rewritten in Rust with scrollback and Windows support", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49390739", "title": "Show HN: Proliferate- open-source, self-hostable Codex for any coding agent", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49022284", "title": "Show HN: Remux \u2013 an open-source tmux workspace designed for iPhone", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48496250", "title": "Show HN: Boo \u2013 screen-style terminal multiplexer built on libghostty", "mentions": 1}], "sentiment_by_month": {"2025-11": {}, "2025-12": {}, "2026-01": {}, "2026-02": {}, "2026-03": {}, "2026-04": {"recommend": 2}, "2026-05": {"compare": 1}, "2026-06": {"recommend": 1}, "2026-07": {"recommend": 2, "compare": 1}, "2026-08": {"neutral": 1}, "2026-09": {}, "2026-10": {"neutral": 1}}, "quotes": [{"id": 801311378, "item_id": 50081961, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50081961", "by": "jauntywundrkind", "date": "2026-10-14", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "There's a variety of others like this, zmx, zmosh", "excerpt": "I know this is hard for security and dozens of reasons, but the thing that drives me nuts about mosh is not having SSH's ControlMaster protocol so I can multiplex. It's a protocol thing, so not directly fixable via a compatible implementation. But it just sucks, I have so many tabs, and I have each one having to do the deed again, maintain it's own connection. I chatted with Astra about this ask here: https://chatgpt", "context": "", "use_case": "session persistence", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: Mosh-rs, Mosh rewritten in Rust with scrollback and Windows support"}, {"id": 790266836, "item_id": 49391677, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49391677", "by": "nzoschke", "date": "2026-08-21", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "terminal multiplexer (https://zmx.sh/ or tmux)", "excerpt": "How does this compare to https://github.com/pingdotgg/t3code or https://github.com/getpaseo/paseo? Is there a good resource indexing all the coding agent tools / harnesses? Every awesome list I've found so far seems very incomplete, but I'm sure its impossible to keep up. My daily drivers are still: - exe.dev + Shelley + terminal multiplexer (https://zmx.sh/ or tmux) + `codex` CLI - Conductor.build I would love an op", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal multiplexer", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: Proliferate- open-source, self-hostable Codex for any coding agent"}, {"id": 784420256, "item_id": 49026266, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49026266", "by": "qudat", "date": "2026-07-23", "stance": "compare", "quote": "did you consider building on top of https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx which also does attach/detach and uses libghostty?", "excerpt": "Neat! I'm curious, did you consider building on top of https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx which also does attach/detach and uses libghostty?", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal session attach/detach", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: Remux \u2013 an open-source tmux workspace designed for iPhone"}, {"id": 781254401, "item_id": 48828400, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48828400", "by": "lemontheme", "date": "2026-07-07", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Whenever I need a process I can reattach to I wrap it in zmx.", "excerpt": "If you do most of your work on a central server and treat your other devices as thin clients, then (afaik) Tmux/Zellij are the way to go \u2013 not to mention if you want to multiplayer with colleagues. (I know Wezterm has remote session multiplexing in beta, but I\u2019d be surprised if you can re-attach from a different machine.) Lately I\u2019ve been experimenting with embracing the total scriptability of my favorite terminal, K", "context": "", "use_case": "persistent processes", "switched_from": "", "story": "Herdr: One terminal to rule them all"}, {"id": 781223392, "item_id": 48826462, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48826462", "by": "jvican", "date": "2026-07-07", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Make sure you check out the thriving ecosystem of tools around it as well.", "excerpt": "My pleasure. Make sure you check out the thriving ecosystem of tools around it as well. I\u2019ve seen a few projects building on it in a prettt creative way.", "context": "", "use_case": "session persistence", "switched_from": "", "story": "Herdr: One terminal to rule them all"}, {"id": 775976736, "item_id": 48498546, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48498546", "by": "ac29", "date": "2026-06-11", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Been using zmx for a few months and love it", "excerpt": "Been using zmx for a few months and love it: https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx/ Very similar, based on libghostty", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal multiplexing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: Boo \u2013 screen-style terminal multiplexer built on libghostty"}, {"id": 771535268, "item_id": 48220954, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48220954", "by": "kloud", "date": "2026-05-21", "stance": "compare", "quote": "libghostty-based zmx being a modern implementation", "excerpt": "Cool project, I like the idea of having tmux-compatible CLI. I used Zellij to get better UX, but many agent tools integrate with tmux. This way agent tools can still integrate tmux as a defacto standard for programmatic interface while having better interface for users. But I wonder if tmux/rmux design is suboptimal since it couples session persistence and window management together. Do you have an opinion the design", "context": "", "use_case": "session persistence", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: Rmux \u2013 A programmable terminal multiplexer with a Playwright-style SDK"}, {"id": 764172608, "item_id": 47760788, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47760788", "by": "qudat", "date": "2026-04-13", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It uses libghostty to restore scrollback history and terminal state.", "excerpt": "Check out: https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx It uses libghostty to restore scrollback history and terminal state.", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal session restore", "switched_from": "", "story": "Make Tmux Pretty and Usable"}, {"id": 764083584, "item_id": 47755224, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47755224", "by": "senderista", "date": "2026-04-13", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It's still a bit buggy (screen repainting) but quite pleasant to use with ghostty.", "excerpt": "I have been using zmx for the last 2 weeks. It's still a bit buggy (screen repainting) but quite pleasant to use with ghostty. https://github.com/neurosnap/zmx", "context": "", "use_case": "terminal session management", "switched_from": "", "story": "Make Tmux Pretty and Usable"}]}