tmux-thumbs

A lightning fast version of tmux-fingers written in Rust for copy pasting with vimium/vimperator like hints.

Usage

Press ( prefix + Space ) to highlight in you current tmux visible pane all text that match specific patterns. Then press the highlighted letter hint to yank the text in your tmux buffer.

Matched patterns

• File paths
• File in diff
• Git SHAs
• IPFS CID's
• Colors in hex
• Numbers ( 4+ digits )
• Hex numbers
• Markdown urls
• IPv4, IPv6 addresses
• Docker images
• kubernetes resources
• UUIDs

These are the list of matched patterns that will be highlighted by default. If you want to highlight a pattern that is not in this list you can add one or more with --regexp parameter.

Demo

Using Tmux Plugin Manager

You can add this line to your list of TPM plugins in .tmux.conf:

set -g @plugin 'fcsonline/tmux-thumbs'

run-shell ~/.tmux/plugins/tmux-thumbs/tmux-thumbs.tmux

To be able to install the plugin just hit prefix + I. You should now be able to use the plugin!

Installation checking out the source code

tmux-thumbs is written in Rust. You will need rustc version 1.35.0 or higher. The recommended way to install Rust is from the official download page.

Clone the repo:

git clone https://github.com/fcsonline/tmux-thumbs ~/.tmux/plugins/tmux-thumbs

Compile it with cargo:

cd ~/.tmux/plugins/tmux-thumbs
cargo build --release

Source it in your .tmux.conf:

run-shell ~/.tmux/plugins/tmux-thumbs/tmux-thumbs.tmux

Reload TMUX conf by running:

tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf

Configuration

If you want to customize how is shown your tmux-thumbs hints those all available parameters to set your perfect profile.

NOTE: for changes to take effect, you'll need to source again your .tmux.conf file.

• @thumbs-key
• @thumbs-alphabet
• @thumbs-reverse
• @thumbs-unique
• @thumbs-position
• @thumbs-regexp-N
• @thumbs-command
• @thumbs-upcase-command
• @thumbs-multi-command
• @thumbs-bg-color
• @thumbs-fg-color
• @thumbs-hint-bg-color
• @thumbs-hint-fg-color
• @thumbs-select-fg-color
• @thumbs-select-bg-color
• @thumbs-multi-fg-color
• @thumbs-multi-bg-color
• @thumbs-contrast
• @thumbs-osc52

@thumbs-key

default: space

Choose which key is used to enter in thumbs mode.

For example:

set -g @thumbs-key F

If you want to customize the way how tmux-thumbs is triggered, you can always bind whatever key to thumbs-pick command. For example:

bind-key \; thumbs-pick

@thumbs-alphabet

default: qwerty

Choose which set of characters is used to build hints. Review all available alphabets

For example:

set -g @thumbs-alphabet dvorak-homerow

@thumbs-reverse

default: disabled

Choose in which direction you want to assign hints. Useful to get shorter hints closer to the cursor.

For example:

set -g @thumbs-reverse enabled

@thumbs-unique

default: disabled

Choose if you want to assign the same hint for the same matched strings.

For example:

set -g @thumbs-unique enabled

@thumbs-position

default: left

Choose where do you want to show the hint in the matched string. Options (left, right, off_left, off_right).

For example:

set -g @thumbs-position right

@thumbs-regexp-N

Add extra patterns to match. This parameter can have multiple instances.

For example:

set -g @thumbs-regexp-1 '[a-z]+@[a-z]+.com' # Match emails
set -g @thumbs-regexp-2 '[a-f0-9]{2}:[a-f0-9]{2}:[a-f0-9]{2}:[a-f0-9]{2}:[a-f0-9]{2}:[a-f0-9]{2}:' # Match MAC addresses
set -g @thumbs-regexp-3 'Vlan\d+' # match Vlan interface on network devices
set -g @thumbs-regexp-4 "Vlan\\d+" # alternative method of defining regexp
set -g @thumbs-regexp-5 Vlan\\d+ # alternative method of defining regexp

@thumbs-command

default: 'tmux set-buffer -- {} && tmux display-message \"Copied {}\"'

Choose which command execute when you press a hint. tmux-thumbs will replace {} with the picked hint.

For example:

set -g @thumbs-command 'echo -n {} | pbcopy'

@thumbs-upcase-command

default: 'tmux set-buffer -- {} && tmux paste-buffer && tmux display-message \"Copied {}\"'

Choose which command execute when you press a upcase hint. tmux-thumbs will replace {} with the picked hint.

For example:

set -g @thumbs-upcase-command 'echo -n {} | pbcopy'

@thumbs-multi-command

default: 'tmux set-buffer -- {} && tmux paste-buffer && tmux send-keys ' ' && tmux display-message \"Copied multiple items!\"'

Choose which command execute when you select multiple items. tmux-thumbs will replace {} with the picked hint for each one.

For example:

set -g @thumbs-multi-command 'echo -n {}'

@thumbs-bg-color

default: black

Sets the background color for matches

For example:

set -g @thumbs-bg-color blue

@thumbs-fg-color

default: green

Sets the foreground color for matches

For example:

set -g @thumbs-fg-color green

@thumbs-hint-bg-color

default: black

Sets the background color for hints

For example:

set -g @thumbs-hint-bg-color blue

@thumbs-hint-fg-color

default: yellow

Sets the foreground color for hints

For example:

set -g @thumbs-hint-fg-color green

@thumbs-select-fg-color

default: blue

Sets the foreground color for selection

For example:

set -g @thumbs-select-fg-color red

@thumbs-select-bg-color

default: black

Sets the background color for selection

For example:

set -g @thumbs-select-bg-color red

@thumbs-multi-fg-color

default: yellow

Sets the foreground color for multi selected item

For example:

set -g @thumbs-multi-fg-color green

@thumbs-multi-bg-color

default: black

Sets the background color for multi selected item

For example:

set -g @thumbs-multi-bg-color red

@thumbs-contrast

default: 0

Displays hint character in square brackets for extra visibility.

For example:

set -g @thumbs-contrast 1

@thumbs-osc52

default: 0

If this is set to 1, tmux-thumbs will print a OSC52 copy escape sequence when you select a match, in addition to running the pick command. This sequence, in terminals that support it (e.g. iTerm), allows the content to be copied into the system clipboard in addition to the tmux copy buffer.

For example:

set -g @thumbs-osc52 1

Colors

This is the list of predefined colors:

• black
• red
• green
• yellow
• blue
• magenta
• cyan
• white
• default

There is also support for using hex colors in the form of #RRGGBB.

Alphabets

This is the list of available alphabets:

• numeric: 1234567890
• abcd: abcd
• qwerty: asdfqwerzxcvjklmiuopghtybn
• qwerty-homerow: asdfjklgh
• qwerty-left-hand: asdfqwerzcxv
• qwerty-right-hand: jkluiopmyhn
• azerty: qsdfazerwxcvjklmuiopghtybn
• azerty-homerow: qsdfjkmgh
• azerty-left-hand: qsdfazerwxcv
• azerty-right-hand: jklmuiophyn
• qwertz: asdfqweryxcvjkluiopmghtzbn
• qwertz-homerow: asdfghjkl
• qwertz-left-hand: asdfqweryxcv
• qwertz-right-hand: jkluiopmhzn
• dvorak: aoeuqjkxpyhtnsgcrlmwvzfidb
• dvorak-homerow: aoeuhtnsid
• dvorak-left-hand: aoeupqjkyix
• dvorak-right-hand: htnsgcrlmwvz
• colemak: arstqwfpzxcvneioluymdhgjbk
• colemak-homerow: arstneiodh
• colemak-left-hand: arstqwfpzxcv
• colemak-right-hand: neioluymjhk

Extra features

• Arrow navigation: You can use the arrows to move around between all matched items.
• Auto paste: If your last typed hint character is uppercase, you are going to pick and paste the desired hint.

Multi selection

If you want to enable the capability to choose multiple matches, you have to press Space. Then, choose the matches with highlighted hints or Enter (moving with cursors) and then Space again to output all of them.

If you run standalone thumbs with multi selection mode (-m) you will be able to choose multiple hints pressing the desired letter and Space to finalize the selection.

Tmux compatibility

This is the known list of versions of tmux compatible with tmux-thumbs:

Version	Compatible
3.0a	✅
2.9a	✅
2.8	❓
2.7	❓
2.6	✅
2.5	❓
2.4	❓
2.3	❓
1.8	❓
1.7	❓

If you can check hat tmux-thumbs is or is not compatible with some specific version of tmux, let me know.

Standalone thumbs

This project started as a tmux plugin but after reviewing it with some friends we decided to explore all the possibilities of decoupling thumbs from tmux. You can install it with a simple command:

cargo install thumbs

And those are all available options:

thumbs 0.7.1
A lightning fast version copy/pasting like vimium/vimperator

USAGE:
    thumbs [FLAGS] [OPTIONS]

FLAGS:
    -c, --contrast    Put square brackets around hint for visibility
    -h, --help        Prints help information
    -m, --multi       Enable multi-selection
    -r, --reverse     Reverse the order for assigned hints
    -u, --unique      Don't show duplicated hints for the same match
    -V, --version     Prints version information

OPTIONS:
    -a, --alphabet <alphabet>                          Sets the alphabet [default: qwerty]
        --bg-color <background_color>                  Sets the background color for matches [default: black]
        --fg-color <foreground_color>                  Sets the foregroud color for matches [default: green]
    -f, --format <format>
            Specifies the out format for the picked hint. (%U: Upcase, %H: Hint) [default: %H]

        --hint-bg-color <hint_background_color>        Sets the background color for hints [default: black]
        --hint-fg-color <hint_foreground_color>        Sets the foregroud color for hints [default: yellow]
    -p, --position <position>                          Hint position [default: left]
    -x, --regexp <regexp>...                           Use this regexp as extra pattern to match
        --select-bg-color <select_background_color>    Sets the background color for selection [default: black]
        --select-fg-color <select_foreground_color>    Sets the foreground color for selection [default: blue]
        --multi-bg-color <multi_background_color>      Sets the background color for a multi selected item [default: black]
        --multi-fg-color <multi_foreground_color>      Sets the foreground color for a multi selected item [default: cyan]
    -t, --target <target>                              Stores the hint in the specified path

If you want to enjoy terminal hints, you can do things like this without tmux:

> alias pick='thumbs -u -r | xsel --clipboard -i'
> git log | pick

Or multi selection:

> git log | thumbs -m
1df9fa69c8831ac042c6466af81e65402ee2a007
4897dc4ecbd2ac90b17de95e00e9e75bb540e37f

Standalone thumbs has some similarities to FZF.

Background

As I said, this project is based in tmux-fingers. Morantron did an extraordinary job, building all necessary pieces in Bash to achieve the text picker behaviour. He only deserves my gratitude for all the time I have been using tmux-fingers.

During a Fosdem conf, we had the idea to rewrite it to another language. He had these thoughts many times ago but it was hard to start from scratch. So, we decided to start playing with Node.js and react-blessed, but we detected some unacceptable latency when the program booted. We didn't investigate much about this latency.

During those days another alternative appeared, called tmux-picker, implemented in python and reusing many parts from tmux-fingers. It was nice, because it was fast and added original terminal color support.

I was curious to know if this was possible to be written in Rust, and soon I realized that was something doable. The ability to implement tests for all critic parts of the application give you a great confidence about it. On the other hand, Rust has an awesome community that lets you achieve this kind of project in a short period of time.

Roadmap

• Support multi selection
• Decouple tmux-thumbs from tmux
• Code Kitty plugin, now that thumbs can run standalone

Troubleshooting

tmux-thumbs must work lighting fast. If you are facing a slow performance capturing the screen hints try to configure Tmux with these settings:

set -g visual-activity off
set -g visual-bell off
set -g visual-silence on

You can read a bit more about this issue here: https://github.com/fcsonline/tmux-thumbs/issues/88

Every time I use tmux-thumbs, dead panes are created. Just review if you have this setting on:

set -g remain-on-exit on

You can read a bit more about this issue here: https://github.com/fcsonline/tmux-thumbs/issues/84

Contribute

This project started as a side project to learn Rust, so I'm sure that is full of mistakes and areas to be improve. If you think you can tweak the code to make it better, I'll really appreciate a pull request. ;)

License

MIT