cmux: Native macOS Terminal Built for Multitasking and Coding Agents

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cmux is a free and open-source macOS terminal powered by libghostty, designed specifically for multitasking and agent-driven workflows. It features vertical tabs, notification rings for attention-seeking processes, split panes, an integrated scriptable browser, and a CLI/socket API for full programmability.

Key points

  1. Built natively with Swift and AppKit (no Electron), using libghostty as the rendering engine.
  2. Notification rings around panes, sidebar badges, and desktop notifications trigger via OSC escape sequences or CLI hooks when tasks need attention.
  3. Includes an in-app split browser with a socket API for DOM inspection, JavaScript evaluation, and automated testing by agents.
  4. Orchestrates subagents and team runs (e.g., Claude Code teams) by turning them into visible native panes.
  5. Persistent state restore: reinstates windows, workspaces, split panes, directories, and agent sessions across restarts.
  6. Supports SSH workflows, remote tmux session attachment, and includes an iOS companion app in beta.

Why it matters

Running multiple autonomous coding agents simultaneously often results in chaotic terminal setups and missed prompts. cmux addresses this by transforming agent processes into visible, manageable GUI panes with explicit notification loops and programmatic browser control.

Analysis

Rather than forking Ghostty, cmux embeds libghostty similarly to how WebKit powers web views, pairing high-performance GPU-accelerated rendering with a native AppKit interface. The terminal targets complex multi-agent developer workflows (such as Claude Code, Codex, and OpenCode), allowing tools to open splits, request input via standard escape sequences, and inspect frontend code in an embedded browser pane. Configuration is split cleanly: standard rendering options inherit from the user's Ghostty config, while workspace behavior, skills, and layout automation are managed through dedicated JSON files and a Unix socket API.

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Summary generated by AI (Gemini 3.8 Flash, 27 September 2026). It may contain errors – the original source is authoritative.

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