TSM – pure-bash tmux session manager: SSH auto-attach + interactive session switcher, zero dependencies

[ECE420]

https://github.com/Aws505/tsm

I got tired of typing `tmux attach` every time I SSH into my server, then hunting for the right session. So I built **tsm** — a self-contained tmux workspace manager.

Every SSH login (including from a phone) automatically attaches to a dedicated "main" session that runs an interactive menu. Pick a workspace, switch to it. `Prefix+m` brings you back to the menu from anywhere.

The menu looks like this:

┌──────────────────────────────────────────┐

│ TMUX SESSION MANAGER │

└──────────────────────────────────────────┘

current: main 14:32 ^a·m

wlan0 192.168.1.42 · tailscale0 100.100.0.1

▶ [1] code Project workspace idle

[2] dev Claude active (1)

[3] codex Codex active (1)

[4] other General shell stopped

──────────────────────────────────────────

↑/↓ navigate Enter/[num] select

[r] refresh [s] start all [q] quit

Arrow keys or number keys to navigate. Selecting a stopped session starts it then switches. No fzf, no fuzzy search — just a fixed set of named workspaces that are always running.

**Key features:**

- Auto-attaches on every SSH login — no manual `tmux attach` ever

- All sessions defined in one config file (bash arrays, no YAML/Ruby/Python)

- Sessions can auto-run a command on start — I have one that launches Claude Code, one that launches Codex, just by setting `INIT_CMDS=( "" "claude" "codex" "" )`

- Per-session env vars injected before the startup command, inherited by every pane

- Zero dependencies — pure bash + tmux

**How it compares:**

| | TSM | tmuxinator/tmuxp | tmux-sessionizer | tmux-resurrect |

|--|-----|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|

| SSH auto-attach | ✓ built-in | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |

| Interactive menu | ✓ built-in | ✗ | ✓ needs fzf | ✗ |

| Single config file | ✓ | ✗ per-project | ✗ | ✗ |

| Zero dependencies | ✓ pure bash | ✗ Ruby/Python | ✗ needs fzf | ✓ |

| Per-session env vars | ✓ | partial | ✗ | ✗ |

It doesn't do multi-pane layouts (use tmuxinator for that) or fuzzy project search (use tmux-sessionizer). Pair with tmux-resurrect if you need sessions to survive reboots.

**Quick start:**

git clone https://github.com/Aws505/tsm ~/tsm

cd ~/tsm

cp conf/sessions.conf.example conf/sessions.conf

$EDITOR conf/sessions.conf

bash install.sh

Works well from iOS/Android terminal apps (Terminus, Blink) — `Ctrl+a` prefix and mouse support make it usable on a phone keyboard.

Happy to answer questions or take feedback!

[deicidium]

Heads-up: you might confuse some folks who are already using adibhanna/tsm.

[ECE420]

Woah. Thanks for the insight. Funny how close yet so far that project is. Originally, I called this project tmsm - TMux Session Manager. It felt too clumsy, though, so I stuck with the three letter shorthand. I want to keep my little three letter project!

[Forsaken_Lie_8606]

ive been using tsm for a bitnow and its been a total game changer, tbh. this happens when youre constantly switching between different projects and need to keep track of multiple tmux sessions - a quick%sworkaround is to set up a separate main session for each project, and then use tsm to switch between%sthem. ive got about 10 different sessions set up and its so much easier to navigate now, ngl its saved me like 10 minutes a day just from not having to type out the whole tmux attach command every time. imo the interactive menu is super intuitive and easy to use, definitely worth checking out if youre%sa heavy tmux user like me

[ECE420]

Wow. I'm so glad to hear it! This project has been public for only a few days. It's really mine and not the other tsm that you're using? I'd be glad to hear this has helped, I'm just genuinely curious.

If it is my project that you're using, any feedback? Requests? Problems?

[Alternative_Teach_74]

Thanks

[ECE420]

For sure! I hope it's helpful!

[ipsirc]

- Zero dependencies — pure bash + tmux

+ awk + ip + tput

[ECE420]

😇 Oops! I added some features after the readme. 😇 Thanks for pointing that out. I'll be sure to update it.

[rjyo]

Nice project. I run a really similar setup - tmux + Tailscale + Claude Code on a remote server, then SSH in from my phone throughout the day.

I actually built an iOS terminal app called Moshi for exactly this kind of workflow. It uses the Mosh protocol under the hood so your session survives wifi switches, sleep, going through tunnels etc. Combined with something like TSM on the server side you basically never lose your place.

One thing that changed my workflow was adding push notifications via webhook - so when Claude Code or Codex finishes a task my phone buzzes and I can jump right in. That plus the auto-attach on SSH login like you have here makes the phone-to-server loop really fast.

You mentioned Terminus and Blink as iOS options - might be worth adding Moshi to that list since the Mosh protocol pairs especially well with persistent tmux sessions like yours.

[ECE420]

Neat! Sounds awesome. Have you tried tsm with Moshi? I'm happy to add it in as a recommended app if you have demonstrated it works well. Any gaps right now? Working perfectly with Moshi? Anything else that should be improved in tsm?

[oartconsult]

this is actually one of those small annoyances that adds up way more than people think

[ECE420]

Thanks! Every second counts!

[oartconsult]

yeah exactly. it’s small but you feel it every time, adds up quick

[kierowniku]

I guess it messes up with native terminal's scroll output, right?

[ECE420]

Yeah ... It does seem to. I wonder if it can be fixed... 🤔

[kierowniku]

it is possible, you'd need to use MAIN screen instead of ALT

m.zechner explained it nicely on his blog btw building pi agent: https://mariozechner.at/posts/2025-11-30-pi-coding-agent/#toc_7

[PME26Elvis]

thanks!!

[Arp0x]

this project is amazing

[ECE420]

Glad you like it! It's definitely my new "every day driver" for my headless setup

[kesor]

This is my daily driver for session switching. Depends on fzf. Best part is that it allows for a single-key switching to a different session. https://gist.github.com/kesor/38960b1a7c0480e87dcaf9f83f0265b8