How to Split a Linux Terminal: Techniques and Tools

Introduction: Splitting your Linux terminal can be a powerful technique, allowing you to manage multiple processes or windows without leaving the terminal environment. Whether you are a seasoned user or a beginner, knowing these techniques can enhance your productivity. In this article, we will explore various methods for splitting a Linux terminal, including built-in features, popular tools like Screen and Tmux, and specific use cases for text editing with tools like VI.

1. Built-in Terminal Splitting Capacities

Many modern terminal applications include built-in features for splitting the terminal window. These can be accessed through the GUI or keyboard shortcuts. KDE/Plasma and Konsole, for instance, offer rich splitting capabilities. You can enable this by navigating to View -> Split View. All commands have keyboard shortcuts, and as you use the terminal more, you will find that the learning curve becomes easier to manage.

2. Using Screen for Terminal Splitting

A more traditional method of splitting a terminal is through the use of Screen. Screen allows you to create and switch between multiple sessions, making it very powerful for managing multiple tasks or shell sessions simultaneously. Here’s how to split a terminal using Screen:

First, open a terminal and type screen. Hit Ctrl A followed by Ctrl D to detach the session and return to your main terminal. In the detached session, you can create new windows by typing Ctrl A followed by c (create a new window). To switch between windows, use Ctrl A followed by a number, where the windows are numbered sequentially (e.g., Ctrl A 1 will switch to window 1). To reattach to a detached session, type screen -r followed by the session ID.

Screen is a command-line tool and works terrifically for beginners and professionals alike. It’s a lightweight and efficient way to manage multiple terminal sessions.

3. Tmux for Terminal Splitting

A more modern tool that has gained popularity is Tmux. Tmux offers a feature-rich experience compared to Screen and is easier to manage for both beginners and experienced users. Below are the steps to split a terminal using Tmux:

First, open a terminal and type tmux. To split horizontally, type Ctrl B followed by S (Shift Down). To split vertically, use Ctrl B followed by % (Percent). Each split can be moved and resized. Use Ctrl B [arrow keys] to move a split, and Ctrl B :resize-pane -L #L, -R #R, -D #D, -U #U to resize it. Switch between panes using Ctrl B [arrow keys]. To detach from the session, type Ctrl B d. To reattach, type tmux attach.

Tmux is highly customizable and can be configured to your liking using a file. It’s a robust tool for managing complex terminal environments and is widely used in development and deployment scenarios.

4. Splitting Terminal for Text Editing with VI

When it comes to text editing, VI is a powerful tool that is built into most Linux distributions. Here’s how you can split a VI editor window to work on different files:

To split the window in VI, use the command :vs to open a file vertically (side by side). To switch focus between the two files, use Ctrl W followed by h (Left) or j (Down). To navigate between the two files, use Ctrl W [arrow keys]. To compare the differences between the two files, add the command :windo diffoff and :windo diffthis. To switch to a better color scheme for visual diffs, use :colorscheme followed by the name of a color scheme you prefer (e.g., :colorscheme desert).

This method is particularly useful when you need to perform quick edits or comparisons without leaving the terminal environment. However, remember that VI is a command-line interface and might require some practice to master the commands.

Conclusion

Splitting a Linux terminal can significantly improve your workflow, making it easier to manage multiple processes and tasks. Whether you prefer using built-in features, Screen, Tmux, or VI, there are several tools and techniques available to help you achieve this. Each has its own strengths, and the choice ultimately depends on your needs and preferences.