Requirements
- Target platform
- OpenClaw
- Install method
- Manual import
- Extraction
- Extract archive
- Prerequisites
- OpenClaw
- Primary doc
- SKILL.md
Remote-control zellij sessions for interactive CLIs by sending keystrokes and scraping pane output.
Remote-control zellij sessions for interactive CLIs by sending keystrokes and scraping pane output.
Hand the extracted package to your coding agent with a concrete install brief instead of figuring it out manually.
I downloaded a skill package from Yavira. Read SKILL.md from the extracted folder and install it by following the included instructions. Tell me what you changed and call out any manual steps you could not complete.
I downloaded an updated skill package from Yavira. Read SKILL.md from the extracted folder, compare it with my current installation, and upgrade it while preserving any custom configuration unless the package docs explicitly say otherwise. Summarize what changed and any follow-up checks I should run.
Use zellij only when you need an interactive TTY. Prefer exec background mode for long-running, non-interactive tasks.
DATA_DIR="${CLAWDBOT_ZELLIJ_DATA_DIR:-${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/moltbot-zellij-data}" mkdir -p "$DATA_DIR" SESSION=moltbot-python zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" new-session --session "$SESSION" --layout "default" --detach zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" run --session "$SESSION" --name repl -- python3 -q zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" pipe --session "$SESSION" --pane-id 0 After starting a session, always print monitor commands: To monitor: zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" attach --session "$SESSION" zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" pipe --session "$SESSION" --pane-id 0
Use CLAWDBOT_ZELLIJ_DATA_DIR (default ${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/moltbot-zellij-data). Zellij stores state (sessions, plugins, etc.) in this directory.
Zellij uses pane-id (numeric) to target specific panes. Find pane IDs: zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" list-sessions --long or use list-panes.sh. Keep session names short; avoid spaces.
List sessions on your data dir: zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" list-sessions. List sessions across all data dirs: {baseDir}/scripts/find-sessions.sh --all (uses CLAWDBOT_ZELLIJ_DATA_DIR).
Use zellij action to send keystrokes: zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" action --session "$SESSION" write-chars --chars "$cmd". Control keys: zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" action --session "$SESSION" write 2 (Ctrl+C).
Capture pane output: zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" pipe --session "$SESSION" --pane-id 0. Wait for prompts: {baseDir}/scripts/wait-for-text.sh -s "$SESSION" -p 0 -p 'pattern'. Attaching is OK; detach with Ctrl+p d (zellij default detach).
For python REPLs, zellij works well with standard python3 -q. No special flags needed like tmux's PYTHON_BASIC_REPL=1.
zellij is supported on macOS/Linux. On Windows, use WSL and install zellij inside WSL. This skill is gated to darwin/linux and requires zellij on PATH.
zellij excels at running multiple coding agents in parallel: DATA_DIR="${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/codex-army-data" # Create multiple sessions for i in 1 2 3 4 5; do zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" new-session --session "agent-$i" --layout "compact" --detach done # Launch agents in different workdirs zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" action --session "agent-1" write-chars --chars "cd /tmp/project1 && codex --yolo 'Fix bug X'\n" zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" action --session "agent-2" write-chars --chars "cd /tmp/project2 && codex --yolo 'Fix bug Y'\n" # Poll for completion (check if prompt returned) for sess in agent-1 agent-2; do pane_id=$(zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" list-sessions --long | grep "\"$sess\"" | jq -r '.tabs[0].panes[0].id') if zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" pipe --session "$sess" --pane-id "$pane_id" | grep -q "โฏ"; then echo "$sess: DONE" else echo "$sess: Running..." fi done # Get full output from completed session zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" pipe --session "agent-1" --pane-id 0 Tips: Use separate git worktrees for parallel fixes (no branch conflicts) pnpm install first before running codex in fresh clones Check for shell prompt (โฏ or $) to detect completion Codex needs --yolo or --full-auto for non-interactive fixes
Kill a session: zellij --data-dir "$DATA_DIR" delete-session --session "$SESSION". Kill all sessions on a data dir: use {baseDir}/scripts/cleanup-sessions.sh "$DATA_DIR".
TasktmuxzellijList sessionslist-sessionslist-sessionsCreate sessionnew-session -dnew-session --detachAttachattach -tattach --sessionSend keyssend-keysaction write-charsCapture panecapture-panepipeKill sessionkill-sessiondelete-sessionDetachCtrl+b dCtrl+p d
{baseDir}/scripts/wait-for-text.sh polls a pane for a regex (or fixed string) with a timeout. {baseDir}/scripts/wait-for-text.sh -s session -p pane-id -r 'pattern' [-F] [-T 20] [-i 0.5] -s/--session session name (required) -p/--pane-id pane ID (required) -r/--pattern regex to match (required); add -F for fixed string -T timeout seconds (integer, default 15) -i poll interval seconds (default 0.5)
{baseDir}/scripts/find-panes.sh lists panes for a given session. {baseDir}/scripts/find-panes.sh -s session [-d data-dir] -s/--session session name (required) -d/--data-dir zellij data dir (uses CLAWDBOT_ZELLIJ_DATA_DIR if not specified)
Workflow acceleration for inboxes, docs, calendars, planning, and execution loops.
Largest current source with strong distribution and engagement signals.