Manages terminal panes and tabs for multi-instance workflows. Use when spawning multiple instances, creating new panes/tabs, running commands in separate terminals, splitting the terminal, or when the user mentions "new pane", "new tab", "split terminal", "spawn instance", "multiple terminals", or needs parallel terminal sessions.
Helps programmatically manage Zellij terminal multiplexer panes and tabs. Enables Claude Code to spawn multiple instances, run commands in separate terminals, and organize development workflows across multiple panes and tabs.
Use Zellij when:
Use direct commands when:
&)# Check if Zellij is installed
which zellij || echo "zellij not installed"
# Install if needed
cargo install zellij
# Or via package managers
brew install zellij # macOS
# Create panes in specific directions
zellij action new-pane --direction left
zellij action new-pane --direction right
zellij action new-pane --direction up
zellij action new-pane --direction down
# Create new tab
zellij action new-tab
# Close current pane
zellij action close-pane
# Close current tab
zellij action close-tab
# Run command in new pane (opens pane with command)
zellij run -- npm test
zellij run -- python server.py
zellij run --direction right -- tail -f logs/app.log
# Run command in new tab
zellij run --direction right --name "Tests" -- npm test
# Spawn Claude Code instance in new pane
zellij action new-pane --direction right
# Run tests in split pane
zellij run --direction down -- npm test
# Start dev server in new pane
zellij run --direction right -- npm run dev
# Monitor logs in new pane
zellij run --direction down -- tail -f /var/log/app.log
# Create new tab for different project
zellij action new-tab
# Create pane on the left for another Claude Code session
zellij action new-pane --direction left
# Create pane below for third instance
zellij action new-pane --direction down
# Run tests while keeping current pane active
zellij run --direction right -- npm test
# Start dev server in separate pane
zellij run --direction down -- npm run dev
# Watch build output
zellij run --direction right -- npm run build -- --watch
# Create new tab for backend work
zellij action new-tab
# Create new tab for frontend
zellij action new-tab
# Close tab when done
zellij action close-tab
zellij run -- to execute commands in new panes (auto-creates pane)zellij action new-pane when you need empty pane for manual work# Spawn Claude Code in left pane, run tests in right
zellij action new-pane --direction left
zellij run --direction right -- npm test
# Development layout: code (current) | server (right) | logs (down)
zellij run --direction right -- npm run dev
zellij run --direction down -- tail -f logs/app.log
echo $ZELLIJ should not be empty)# Workflow 1: Spawn multiple Claude Code instances for parallel work
zellij action new-pane --direction left # Claude Code instance 1
zellij action new-pane --direction right # Claude Code instance 2
# Workflow 2: Run tests while coding
zellij run --direction down -- npm test
# Workflow 3: Monitor application (server + logs)
zellij run --direction right -- npm run dev
zellij run --direction down -- tail -f logs/error.log