tmsave

Save and restore tmux pane layouts per directory.

Installation

Source the script in your shell config:

source /path/to/tmsave.sh

Dependency: jq (for JSON parsing on restore)

Usage

Save layout

cd ~/myproject
# Set up your panes how you like them
tmsave

Save a built-in default layout

tmsave -D       # D0: current 3-pane default
tmsave -D1      # D1: 4-pane default, with the right column split
tmsave -D1 ~/myproject

Default layouts are only saved when no layout exists for that directory, and are applied immediately.

Restore layout

cd ~/myproject
tmre

Apply layout from another directory (git worktrees)

Pass a directory to load its layout and apply it to your current directory. Subdirectory panes are mapped relatively.

# You have a layout saved for your main worktree
cd ~/myproject-feature-branch
tmre ~/myproject

# Pane that was at ~/myproject/ui → opens at ~/myproject-feature-branch/ui

List saved layouts

tmlist          # Human-readable table
tmlist --json   # JSON array for scripting

Move layout to new path

When you relocate a project:

tmsavemv ~/old/path ~/new/path

Help

All commands support -h / --help:

tmsave --help
tmre --help
tmlist --help
tmsavemv --help

How it works

• Layouts are stored in ~/.local/share/tmsave/layouts/
• Indexed by base64-encoded directory path
• Saves: pane geometry, subdirectory paths, active pane
• Restores: recreates panes, applies layout, cds into subdirectories only where needed

Notes

• Run tmsave from the project root directory
• Panes in subdirectories are restored with relative cd
• Panes outside the base directory stay at the base on restore (warning shown on save)