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https://github.com/mklement0/ttab
macOS and Linux CLI for opening a new terminal tab/window, optionally with a command to execute and/or display settings
https://github.com/mklement0/ttab
cli macos tabs tabs-management terminal ttab
Last synced: 5 days ago
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macOS and Linux CLI for opening a new terminal tab/window, optionally with a command to execute and/or display settings
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/mklement0/ttab
- Owner: mklement0
- Created: 2015-06-01T04:22:25.000Z (over 9 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2024-05-22T21:26:15.000Z (8 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2024-05-22T21:39:51.139Z (8 months ago)
- Topics: cli, macos, tabs, tabs-management, terminal, ttab
- Language: Shell
- Homepage:
- Size: 512 KB
- Stars: 272
- Watchers: 9
- Forks: 15
- Open Issues: 8
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Changelog: CHANGELOG.md
- License: LICENSE.md
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
[](https://npmjs.com/package/ttab) [](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/blob/master/LICENSE.md)
**Contents**
- [ttab — programmatically open a new terminal tab or window](#ttab-mdash-programmatically-open-a-new-terminal-tab-or-window)
- [Installation](#installation)
- [Installation via Homebrew (macOS only)](#installation-via-homebrew-macos-only)
- [Installation from the npm registry](#installation-from-the-npm-registry)
- [Manual installation](#manual-installation)
- [Examples](#examples)
- [Usage](#usage)
- [License](#license)
- [Acknowledgements](#acknowledgements)
- [npm dependencies](#npm-dependencies)
- [Changelog](#changelog)
# ttab — programmatically open a new terminal tab or window
A CLI for Unix-like platforms that programmatically opening a new terminal tab/window in one of the following terminal applications, optionally with a command to execute and/or a specific title and specific display settings (profile).
- On **[macOS](https://www.apple.com/macos)**: either `Terminal` (the default terminal emulator) or popular alternative [`iTerm2`](http://www.iterm2.com/).
- On **Linux**, [Gnome Terminal](https://help.gnome.org/users/gnome-terminal) (`gnome-terminal`), thanks to a contribution by [@ksvirsky](https://github.com/ksvirsky).
- Note: `ttab` does _not_ support **Windows**; consider using the [Windows Terminal](https://github.com/microsoft/terminal/blob/main/README.md)-based [`wttab`](https://github.com/lalilaloe/wttab) utility there.
Note: `iTerm2` and `gnome-terminal` support is currently not covered by the automated tests run before every release.
# Installation
**Important**: On macOS, irrespective of installation method, `Terminal` / `iTerm2` (`iTerm.app`) needs to be granted _access for assistive devices_ in order for `ttab` to function properly, which is a _one-time operation that requires administrative privileges_.
If you're not prompted on first run and get an error message instead, go to `System Preferences > Security & Privacy`, tab `Privacy`, select `Accessibility`, unlock, and make sure `Terminal.app` / `iTerm.app` is in the list on the right and has a checkmark.
For more information, see [Apple's support article on the subject](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202802).
## Installation via Homebrew (macOS only)
With [Homebrew](https://brew.sh/) installed, run the following:
* Initial installation:
```sh
brew tap mklement0/ttab https://github.com/mklement0/ttab.git
brew install mklement0/ttab/ttab
```
* Later updates:
```sh
brew upgrade mklement0/ttab/ttab
```
Note:
- The Homebrew version may lag behind the npm registry version if later versions relate solely to the Linux-only Gnome Terminal functionality.
- To remove `ttab` later, run `brew rm ttab`.
## Installation from the npm registry
With [Node.js](http://nodejs.org/) installed, install from the [npm registry](https://www.npmjs.com/package/ttab):
* Initial installation:
[sudo] npm install ttab -g
* Later update:
[sudo] npm upgrade ttab -g
**Note**:
- Whether you need `sudo` depends on how you installed Node.js and whether you've [changed permissions later](https://docs.npmjs.com/getting-started/fixing-npm-permissions); if you get an `EACCES` error, try again with `sudo`.
- The `-g` ensures [_global_ installation](https://docs.npmjs.com/getting-started/installing-npm-packages-globally) and is needed to put `ttab` in your system's `$PATH`.
- To remove `ttab` later, run `[sudo] npm rm ttab -g`.
## Manual installation
- Download [this `bash` script](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mklement0/ttab/stable/bin/ttab) as `ttab`.
- Make it executable with `chmod +x ttab`.
- Move it to a folder in your `$PATH`, such as `/usr/local/bin`.
# Examples
```shell
# Open a new tab in the current terminal window.
ttab
# Open a new tab in a new terminal window.
ttab -w
# Open new horizontal split tab in the current terminal window:
ttab -h
# Open new vertical split tab in the current terminal window, changing the path to the
# given path, but without checking the presence of the target directory:
ttab -v -i -d "$HOME/Library/Application Support"
# Open a new tab and execute the specified command before showing the prompt.
ttab ls -l "$HOME/Library/Application Support"
# Open a new tab and execute the specified command *after a delay* of 0.8 secs,
# to accommodate shells with lengthy initialization-file processing.
# Note: You may preset the delay via environment variable TTAB_CMD_DELAY
ttab -l 0.8 ls -1
# Open a new tab and execute *multiple* commands in it - note how the entire
# command line is specified as *single, quoted string*.
ttab 'git branch; git status'
# Open a new tab, switch to the specified dir., then execute the specified
# command before showing the prompt.
ttab -d ~/Library/Application\ Support ls -1
# Open a new tab with title 'How Green Was My Valley' and settings 'Grass'.
# See the note re use of -t in iTerm2 below.
ttab -t 'How Green Was My Valley' -s Grass
# Open a new tab and execute the specified script before showing the prompt.
ttab /path/to/someScript
# Open a new tab, execute the specified script, and exit.
ttab exec /path/to/someScript
# Open a new tab, execute a command, wait for a keypress, and exit.
ttab 'ls "$HOME/Library/Application Support"; echo Press a key to exit.; read -rsn 1; exit'
# Open a new tab in iTerm2 (if installed).
ttab -a iTerm2 echo 'Hi from iTerm2.'
# Execute the command in the current tab of the current terminal window:
ttab -c 'ls "$HOME/Library/Application Support"'
```
# Usage
Find concise usage information below; for complete documentation, read the [manual online](doc/ttab.md), or, once installed, run `man ttab` (`ttab --man` if installed manually).
```nohighlight
$ ttab --help
Opens a new terminal tab or window, on macOS in either Terminal.app or
iTerm2.app; on Linux in Gnome Terminal, if available.
ttab [-w|-v|-h|-c] [-i] [-s ] [-t ] [-q] [-g|-G] [-d ] [ ...]
-w Open new tab in new terminal window.
-v iTerm only: create a new vertical split
-h iTerm only: create a new horizontal split
-c Terminal/iTerm only: do not open any new window or
tab, run in the current tab of the current window.
-i Suppress up-front verification of the existence of
the target directory specified via the -d option.
-s Assign a settings set (profile).
-t Specify title for new tab.
-q Clear the new tab's screen.
-g Terminal/iTerm only: create in background (don't
activate application).
-G Terminal/iTerm: don't activate new tab and create in
background.
gnome-terminal: don't activate new tab, except with -w.
-d Specify working directory; -d '' disables inheriting
the current dir. in Terminal/iTerm.
-l Terminal/iTerm only: delay startup command submission;
may be preset via env. var. TTAB_CMD_DELAY
-a Terminal | iTerm Open the new tab in the given terminal app on macOS.
... Command to execute in the new tab.
" ...; ..." Multi-command command line (passed as single operand).
Standard options: --help, --man, --version, --home
```
Note to **iTerm2 users**: The `-t` option for specifying a title only works if
the new tab's active profile is configured to show the session name in the
title, which can be configured via the Preferences dialog as shown by
@francis-lookback [here](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/issues/23#issuecomment-645210109).
# License
Copyright (c) 2015-2024 Michael Klement (http://same2u.net), released under the [MIT license](https://spdx.org/licenses/MIT#licenseText).
## Acknowledgements
A thank you to all contributors to this repo, especially the following major ones:
* [@ksvirsky](https://github.com/ksvirsky)
* [@HofiOne](https://github.com/HofiOne)
This project gratefully depends on the following open-source components, according to the terms of their respective licenses.
[npm](https://www.npmjs.com/) dependencies below have optional suffixes denoting the type of dependency; the _absence_ of a suffix denotes a required _run-time_ dependency: `(D)` denotes a _development-time-only_ dependency, `(O)` an _optional_ dependency, and `(P)` a _peer_ dependency.
## npm dependencies
* [doctoc (D)]()
* [json (D)]()
* [marked (D)](https://marked.js.org)
* [marked-man (D)]()
* [replace (D)]()
* [semver (D)]()
* [tap (D)](http://www.node-tap.org/)
* [urchin (D)]()
# Changelog
Versioning complies with [semantic versioning (semver)](http://semver.org/).
* **[v0.9.0](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.8.0...v0.9.0)** (2024-05-22):
* [enhancement] Thanks to [@HofiOne](https://github.com/HofiOne), `ttab` now supports new macOS-focused options, `-h`, `-v`, `-c`, and `-i`,
which notably includes support for splitting the current tab horizontally (`-h`) or vertically (`-v`) in iTerm2.
* [fix] Attempts to use options that are not supported in the target terminal now consistently result in errors.
* [breaking change] Since `-h` now requests horizontal splitting, it can no longer be used to invoke help; use `--help` instead.
* **[v0.8.0](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.7.3...v0.8.0)** (2023-01-12):
* [enhancement] New `-l` option / env. var. `TTAB_CMD_DELAY` allows specifying a delay before submitting a startup command to a new tab, to accommodate shells whose initialization-file processing takes a while (iTerminal / iTerm2 only).
* **[v0.7.3](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.7.2...v0.7.3)** (2022-08-11):
* [fix] for #43; the way that keeping the shell alive is emulated in Gnome Terminal now also works when the startup command is aborted with Ctrl-C.
* **[v0.7.2](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.7.1...v0.7.2)** (2021-10-26):
* [fix] for #39; `ttab` now works correctly when iTerm's "Exclude from Dock and ⌘-Tab Application Switcher" preference is enabled, albeit without support for `-g` and `-G`, for technical reasons.
* **[v0.7.1](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.7.0...v0.7.1)** (2021-04-06):
* [fix] Fix for #13: `-g` and `-G` now work in macOS Big Sur too.
* **[v0.7.0](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.6.1...v0.7.0)** (2020-08-24):
* [enhancement] Thanks to [@ksvirsky](https://github.com/ksvirsky), `ttab` is now also available on Linux, assuming `gnome-terminal` is available.
* **[v0.6.1](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.6.0...v0.6.1)** (2017-11-08):
* [fix] macOS 10.13 (High Sierra compatibility), which makes `-G` work again.
* [installation] Homebrew formula added (added post-release, on 2019-12-22).
* **[v0.6.0](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.5.1...v0.5.2)** (2017-06-21):
* [enhancement] `-d ''` now prevents `ttab` from implicitly changing to what
it thinks the working directory should be; useful for creating tabs/windows
that set their own working directory.
* **[v0.5.1](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.5.0...v0.5.1)** (2017-03-23):
* [doc] Sample command fixed.
* [dev] Reliability of tests improved.
* **[v0.5.0](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.4.0...v0.5.0)** (2016-10-01):
* [new feature] `-q` now allows clearing the "screen" of the new tab after
opening using `clear`, assuming any command (list) passed succeeded.
* [enhancement] A quoted multi-command shell command string can now be
specified as a single - and only - operand, without having to precede with
an explicit `eval` command.
* [behavior change] If no custom title is specified with `-t `, no
attempt is made anymore to auto-derive a meaningful tab title from the
shell command specified, as there is no heuristic that works well in all
cases.
* [fix] [Issue #7](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/issues/7): iTerm2
now also preserves the current working dir. when opening a new tab in the
current window.
* **[v0.4.0](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.3.1...v0.4.0)** (2016-09-13):
* [enhancement] `-a Terminal|iTerm2` now allows specifying the target Terminal
application, which is useful for launching `ttab` from non-terminal applications
such as [Alfred](http://alfredapp.com).
* [fix] Specifying a syntactically invalid shell command to execute in the
new tab now causes `ttab` to report a nonzero exit code.
* **[v0.3.1](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.3.0...v0.3.1)** (2016-06-03):
* [enhancement] Support for iTerm2 v3 added (whose AppleScript syntax changed fundamentally)
* [enhancement] Setting a tab title is now also supported in iTerm2 v2.
* **[v0.3.0](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.2.1...v0.3.0)** (2016-05-04):
* [enhancement] Experimental support for iTerm2 (`iTerm.app`) added.
* **[v0.2.1](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.2.0...v0.2.1)** (2015-09-15):
* [dev] Makefile improvements; various other behind-the-scenes tweaks.
* **[v0.2.0](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.1.8...v0.2.0)** (2015-09-14):
* [enhancement] You can now use embedded (escaped, if necessary) double-quotes inside a multi-command string passed via `eval`.
* [doc] If installed via the npm registry, a man page is now installed (view with `man ttab`); if installed manually, `ttab --man`
shows a plain-text version. `ttab -h` now only prints concise, single-page usage information.
* **[v0.1.8](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.1.7...v0.1.8)** (2015-09-11):
* [doc] Incorrect new-window option corrected in examples.
* [doc, dev] Read-me improved together with the Makefile to turn off syntax highlighting for the CLI help chapter.
* **[v0.1.7](https://github.com/mklement0/ttab/compare/v0.1.6...v0.1.7)** (2015-06-26):
* [doc] Read-me: npm badge changed to shields.io; license badge added.
* [dev] Makefile updated.
* **v0.1.6** (2015-06-01):
* [doc] Read-me improvements; typo in CLI usage help fixed.
* **v0.1.5** (2015-06-01):
* [doc] Improved CLI usage help.
* **v0.1.4** (2015-06-01):
* [doc] Improved CLI usage help; keywords added to `package.json`.
* [dev] `make browse` now opens the GitHub repo in the default browser.
* **v0.1.3** (2015-06-01):
* [fix] The -g and -G options again correctly do not activate Terminal.app when creating the desired tab.
* [enhancement] Option parsing now accepts option-arguments directly attached to the option.
* [dev] Tests added.
* **v0.1.2** (2015-06-01):
* [doc] Manual-installation link and instructions fixed; examples fixed.
* **v0.1.1** (2015-06-01):
* [doc] README.md improved with respect to manual installation instructions.
* **v0.1.0** (2015-06-01):
* Initial release.