proctmux is a terminal-based process manager for running and controlling long-lived processes and scripts.
Its interactive text interface presents a searchable list of configured processes, their status and output.
Processes are defined in a YAML configuration file. proctmux can operate in a single terminal, across synchronized client and server terminals, or in a unified split-pane layout. It runs inside an existing terminal emulator rather than attempting to replace one.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Start, stop and restart processes from an interactive terminal interface.
- Run multiple processes in a unified split-pane layout.
- Synchronize the interface across separate client and server terminals.
- Filter processes by name using fuzzy searching.
- Organize and filter processes using categories.
- Automatically start selected processes when proctmux launches.
- Define working directories and environment variables for individual processes.
- Configure signals, shutdown timeouts and post-stop commands.
- Automatically create process entries from Makefile targets and package.json scripts.
- Control running processes through an optional HTTP signal server and command-line client.
- Customize key bindings, status colours and interface layout.
- Supports Linux, macOS and BSD systems.
Website: github.com/napisani/proctmux
Support:
Developer: Nick Pisani
License: MIT License
proctmux is written in Zig. Learn Zig with our recommended free tutorials.
Related Software
| Terminal-Based Process Managers | |
|---|---|
| PM2 | Production runtime for keeping Node.js and Bun applications online |
| Pueue | Queue and schedule long-running shell commands in the background |
| Overmind | Run Procfile-based applications through tmux with clean output |
| Process Compose | Schedule and orchestrate non-containerized application stacks |
| prox | Supervise applications with live metrics, logs and a polished TUI |
| Procman | Procfile dashboard with live logs and interactive terminals |
| OxMgr | Lightweight Rust supervisor with health checks and crash recovery |
| Overitall | Control Procfile services and explore logs from one terminal |
| proctmux | Run and control long-lived commands from a searchable TUI |
| gob | Daemon-backed CLI and TUI for developers and coding agents |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
 Explore our carefully curated directory of recommended free and open source software, covering every major software category.The directory forms part of our extensive collection of articles for Linux enthusiasts. It includes hundreds of detailed reviews, together with free and open source alternatives to proprietary software from companies such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. LinuxLinks also covers interesting projects worth exploring, Linux-compatible hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Know a useful free and open source Linux application that we haven’t covered? Tell us about it using our submission form. |
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.