Zellij
FreeTerminal sessions that survive a dropped ssh — without memorising shortcuts
A terminal multiplexer that runs multiple panes and tabs in one window with sessions living in the background, so a dropped ssh connection reattaches exactly where it was. The main difference from tmux is a permanent hint bar of keybindings along the bottom, so nothing has to be memorised first; it also supports layout files and WebAssembly plugins.
Why we picked it
MIT-licensed, 35,400 stars.
tmux solves a concrete problem: ssh into a server, start a two-hour job, lose the connection and the
job dies with it. A multiplexer keeps processes in a background session that you reattach to. The
cost is tmux's entry barrier — an entire Ctrl-b keybinding vocabulary that does not stick without
a cheatsheet.
Zellij keeps a hint bar pinned to the bottom of the screen, spelling out what each mode accepts. It is usable on first launch, and the bar can be hidden later to reclaim the line.
Layouts can be written to a file: which pane runs which command, how the screen splits, saved as config so one command lays out an entire working environment next time.
To be clear about:
- It uses more resources than tmux, which is noticeable on an old low-memory VPS.
- There is no native Windows build; it goes through WSL.
- Installing it on a server means the remote side needs it too. With it only on your laptop, the ssh benefit is limited.