https://github.com/midasdf/zplit
A <100KB terminal multiplexer in Zig. Zero dependencies. Light enough to run where others won't.
https://github.com/midasdf/zplit
terminal-multiplexer tui zellij-alternative zig
Last synced: 3 months ago
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A <100KB terminal multiplexer in Zig. Zero dependencies. Light enough to run where others won't.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/midasdf/zplit
- Owner: midasdf
- License: mit
- Created: 2026-03-17T03:09:34.000Z (3 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-03-29T15:29:40.000Z (3 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-03-29T18:07:54.442Z (3 months ago)
- Topics: terminal-multiplexer, tui, zellij-alternative, zig
- Language: Zig
- Size: 17 MB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# zplit
**A terminal multiplexer under 100KB.**
Written in Zig. Zero dependencies. Statically linked. Light enough to run where others won't.
## Why
Measured on Raspberry Pi Zero 2W (aarch64, Arch Linux ARM), March 2026:
| | zplit | tmux 3.6a | zellij 0.43.1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binary | **91 KB** | 1.3 MB | 44 MB |
| Language | Zig | C | Rust + WASM |
| Runtime deps | **0** | libevent, ncurses, etc. | curl, glibc, zlib, etc. |
| Text reflow | Yes | No | Yes |
| CJK width | Yes | Yes | Yes |
> zplit binary = static aarch64 `ReleaseSmall` (92,848 bytes). tmux/zellij = installed size from `pacman -Si`/`pacman -Qi` on aarch64.
## Features
- **Pane splitting** — horizontal, vertical, resize, focus navigation
- **Tabs** — create, close, switch
- **Session persistence** — detach/attach, layout saved on detach/quit
- **Zellij-style modes** — NORMAL, PANE, TAB, SCROLL, SESSION, LOCKED
- **Text reflow** — content reflows when terminal width changes
- **Scrollback** — preserved on screen clear, scroll mode to browse history
- **CJK support** — fullwidth characters, Japanese input (fcitx5)
- **Terminal emulation** — SGR colors (256 + RGB), alternate screen, DA1/DSR
- **Alternate screen** — vim, htop, etc. restore correctly on exit
- **Single binary** — client/server in one executable, zero runtime dependencies
## Install
### Build from source
```bash
# Requires Zig 0.15+
git clone https://github.com/midasdf/zplit.git
cd zplit
zig build -Doptimize=ReleaseSmall
# Binary at zig-out/bin/zplit (<100KB)
```
### Cross-compile for ARM
```bash
zig build -Doptimize=ReleaseSmall -Dtarget=aarch64-linux-gnu
# Static binary, runs on any aarch64 Linux
```
## Usage
```bash
zplit # Start new session
zplit attach # Attach to existing session
zplit list # List sessions
```
### Keybindings
All modes return to NORMAL with `Esc` or `Enter`.
| Key | Mode | Action |
|-----|------|--------|
| `Ctrl+p` | → PANE | Pane operations |
| `Ctrl+t` | → TAB | Tab operations |
| `Ctrl+s` | → SCROLL | Browse scrollback |
| `Ctrl+o` | → SESSION | Detach/quit |
| `Ctrl+g` | → LOCKED | Pass all keys to PTY |
**PANE mode:**
`h/j/k/l` focus | `H/J/K/L` resize | `n` split-h | `v` split-v | `x` close
**TAB mode:**
`h/l` switch | `n` new | `x` close
**SCROLL mode:**
`j/k` line | `u/d` half-page | `PageUp/PageDown`
**SESSION mode:**
`d` detach | `q` quit
## Configuration
`~/.config/zplit/config.toml`
```toml
[general]
default_shell = "/bin/fish"
scrollback_lines = 1000
max_panes = 8
[appearance]
status_bar = true
pane_border_style = "single"
[keybinds]
pane_mode = "ctrl+p"
tab_mode = "ctrl+t"
scroll_mode = "ctrl+s"
```
## Architecture
Single binary acts as both client and server, connected via Unix domain socket.
| Client (thin relay) | | Server (owns everything) |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal raw mode | Unix | PTY management |
| Input parser (CSI) | domain | VT parser (custom) |
| Mode state machine | socket | Grid + reflow engine |
| | | Screen compositor |
| | | Tab / Pane tree |
17 source files, ~7400 lines of Zig. No external dependencies.
## License
MIT