lpm vs tmux
tmux-level visibility, one-command start, no config.
tmux is a wonderful terminal multiplexer. lpm is a local project manager that happens to give you the same pane-per-service layout for free. If you only use tmux to wire up your dev stack, this page is for you.
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How it compares
Where each tool earns its keep
tmux wins on persistence, ubiquity, and raw flexibility. lpm wins on first-class projects, zero-config start, and a desktop app. Here is the honest side-by-side.
| Capability | lpm | tmux |
|---|---|---|
| One-command project start | via tmuxinator | |
| Zero config to run a detected stack | ||
| Auto-detect Rails, Next.js, Go, Django, Flask, Docker Compose | ||
| Pane-per-service live output | ||
| Native macOS desktop app with visual switcher | ||
| Multi-project management as a first-class concept | via tmuxinator | |
| Start / stop / duplicate projects as first-class ops | manual | |
| Built for running AI agents (Claude Code, Codex) in parallel | manual | |
| Session detach / reattach across terminal restarts | ||
| Works over SSH on any Unix box | CLI only | |
| Fully scriptable keybindings and layouts | via .tmux.conf | |
| Tiny footprint, ubiquitous on Unix systems |
lpm
- One-command project start
- Zero config to run a detected stack
- Auto-detect Rails, Next.js, Go, Django, Flask, Docker Compose
- Pane-per-service live output
- Native macOS desktop app with visual switcher
- Multi-project management as a first-class concept
- Start / stop / duplicate projects as first-class ops
- Built for running AI agents (Claude Code, Codex) in parallel
- Session detach / reattach across terminal restarts
- CLI onlyWorks over SSH on any Unix box
- Fully scriptable keybindings and layouts
- Tiny footprint, ubiquitous on Unix systems
tmux
- via tmuxinatorOne-command project start
- Zero config to run a detected stack
- Auto-detect Rails, Next.js, Go, Django, Flask, Docker Compose
- Pane-per-service live output
- Native macOS desktop app with visual switcher
- via tmuxinatorMulti-project management as a first-class concept
- manualStart / stop / duplicate projects as first-class ops
- manualBuilt for running AI agents (Claude Code, Codex) in parallel
- Session detach / reattach across terminal restarts
- Works over SSH on any Unix box
- via .tmux.confFully scriptable keybindings and layouts
- Tiny footprint, ubiquitous on Unix systems
Honest take
Which one should you actually use?
tmux and lpm do different jobs that overlap only at 'run services in panes.' Pick based on what you really need, not on which tool is newer.
Pick lpm
You use tmux mostly as a crude process manager for your dev stack.
- You open a project and immediately run rails s, npm dev, redis, and a worker in separate panes — every single time.
- You do not want to maintain a .tmux.conf or a tmuxinator YAML for every project.
- You juggle multiple local projects and want a visual switcher that remembers them.
- You want to run Claude Code, Codex, or other AI agents in parallel with every service's output visible at once.
- You like the idea of a native macOS desktop app with live per-service panes, plus a CLI that shares the same config.
Pick tmux
You already love tmux and use it for much more than starting services.
- You have years of muscle memory and a .tmux.conf you actually enjoy.
- Most of your work happens inside SSH sessions on remote machines.
- You need sessions that survive terminal crashes, reboots, and ssh drops.
- You use tmux for vim splits, logs, monitoring, ops work — not just dev servers.
- You already have a tmuxinator or zellij layout that fits your brain perfectly.
- You work on a platform other than macOS — lpm is macOS-only.
FAQ
lpm vs tmux, answered honestly
Can I still use tmux alongside lpm?
Absolutely. lpm manages your project's services — it has no opinion on your editor, shell, or terminal setup. Keep tmux for SSH, long-lived sessions, vim splits, and anything else you already use it for. Let lpm handle the boring part: starting the dev stack when you open a project.Does lpm use tmux under the hood?
Yes — lpm runs services inside tmux sessions so they persist across terminal restarts and each one has its own scrollable window. The point is that lpm wraps the tmux mechanics: you never edit a .tmux.conf, never memorize keybindings, never attach to a window by name. You get the tmux benefits (sessions stay alive, per-service windows) without the config burden. If tmux isn't installed, the lpm installer tells you to brew install tmux.What about my remote / SSH workflow?
tmux is the right tool there and nothing here changes that. The lpm desktop app is macOS-only and local-first; the CLI is cross-platform but still aims at local dev stacks. If most of your work is inside an SSH session on a remote box, keep tmux — lpm is not trying to replace it.Is this basically tmuxinator with a GUI?
Overlapping goals, different shape. tmuxinator gives you named, YAML-defined tmux layouts per project. lpm gives you auto-detected projects with live pane output, a visual switcher, and first-class start / stop / duplicate — plus a CLI that shares the same config. If your tmuxinator file is mostly `rails s`, `npm dev`, `redis`, `sidekiq`, lpm will feel like a shortcut. If you lean on custom layouts, splits, and keybindings, tmuxinator will still suit you better.How do I move a tmuxinator project over to lpm?
For an auto-detected stack (Rails, Next.js, Go, Django, Flask, Docker Compose), point lpm at the directory and it figures out the services on its own — usually no config at all. For anything custom, define the services in lpm's config and start the project from the app or CLI. You can keep the tmuxinator file around as a fallback; lpm won't touch it. Source and examples are on GitHub.
Keep tmux. Let lpm start the boring stuff.
lpm is free, open source, and installs in one command on macOS. Point it at a project, hit Start, and get your whole stack running with per-service output — no tmux config required.
Download for macOS
Signed & notarized by Apple