Byobu
Byobu is a text-based window manager and terminal multiplexer for Linux, BSD, and macOS.
What Byobu is
Byobu is a text-based window manager and terminal multiplexer for Linux, BSD, and macOS. It runs on tmux or GNU Screen and adds function-key controls, split panes, session management, and system-status notifications. Shortcuts can manage windows, scrollback, and detaching without a prefix key. You can create, rename, reorder, split, zoom, and synchronize windows and panes, then save layouts to restore later. Sessions can be detached and reattached while windows, running processes, and history remain available; each window supports up to 10,000 lines of scrollback. A two-line status bar can display items such as CPU, memory, disk, network, battery, load, and time, with individual indicators configurable. The F9 menu provides settings for notifications, keybindings, profiles, and backends. Byobu defaults to tmux when available and can switch to GNU Screen. It is free GPLv3-licensed software; its listed plan is free. It requires tmux version 1.5 or later and/or GNU Screen.
Good
- Free GPLv3-licensed software.
- Detaching preserves windows, processes, and history.
- Status indicators can be toggled individually.
- Saved layouts can be restored later.
Watch out
- Requires tmux 1.5 or later and/or GNU Screen.
- Support is largely volunteer-led.
Who it suits
Byobu suits terminal users who want persistent sessions, configurable panes, and system indicators on Linux, BSD, or macOS. It may also suit server users who prefer keyboard-driven window management.
Verdict
Byobu adds session persistence, pane controls, and configurable system information to tmux or GNU Screen. Its free plan and broad Unix-like platform support may appeal to terminal users comfortable with those backends.
Plans and prices
From Byobu's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Byobu | Free | GPLv3 open source · Requires tmux ≥ 1.5 and/or GNU Screen |
The facts
Each one read from Byobu's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Audience
- The project was originally created to add enhancements to GNU Screen for Ubuntu server users and now describes itself as a terminal enhancement layer for Linux, BSD, and macOS.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Backends
- Byobu supports tmux and GNU Screen, defaults to tmux when available, and lets users switch backends with byobu-select-backend.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Configuration
- An interactive F9 menu lets users toggle status notifications, change keybinding sets, select profiles, and switch backends.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Integrations
- Byobu integrates with tmux and GNU Screen as backends and can display system indicators including network, Wi-Fi, battery, updates, RAID status, and custom scripts.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Keybindings
- Function-key shortcuts manage windows, split panes, scrolling, detaching, and other actions without requiring a prefix key.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Layouts
- Users can save and restore split-pane layouts, and define repeatable window sets in configuration files.checked 4 Oct 2001
- License
- Byobu is GPLv3-licensed open-source software hosted on GitHub.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Pane management
- Users can create, rename, reorder, split, zoom, and synchronize windows and panes.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Purpose
- Byobu is a text-based window manager and terminal multiplexer that wraps tmux or GNU Screen with keybindings, status notifications, profile management, and split-pane layouts.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Scrollback
- Each window supports up to 10,000 lines of scrollback history.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Session persistence
- Users can detach and reattach to sessions while their windows, processes, and history survive.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Status bar
- Its two-line status bar can show CPU, memory, disk, network, battery, load, time, and other system information, with items independently toggleable.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Support
- Support is largely volunteer-led; users can report bugs on GitHub Issues and ask questions on StackExchange.checked 4 Oct 2001
The company
- Founded
- 2008checked 28 Sep 2001
Where it runs
- Platforms and dependencies
- The site says Byobu works on most Linux, BSD, and macOS distributions and requires tmux version 1.5 or later and/or GNU Screen.checked 4 Oct 2001
