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tui-debug-in-pane

Reproduce and debug TUI rendering issues by running ralph in a tmux split pane.

3.1k|292|Updated Sep 7, 2025
Search Tags:#rendering#tui#Debugging#Terminal#Ralph#capture-pane#Tmux
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/mikeyobrien/ralph-orchestrator --skill tui-debug-in-pane
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: tui-debug-in-pane
Source: https://github.com/mikeyobrien/ralph-orchestrator/tree/main/.claude/skills/tui-debug-in-pane
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/mikeyobrien/ralph-orchestrator --skill tui-debug-in-pane

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

TUI rendering bugs like garbled output, broken streaming, and layout corruption are hard to reproduce and inspect because the TUI takes over the terminal. This Skill runs ralph in a tmux split pane so live output can be captured and analyzed without losing control of the main terminal.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Isolated TUI Execution: Launch ralph in a dedicated tmux split pane while keeping the main pane free for inspection commands.
  • Live Output Capture: Use tmux capture-pane to snapshot TUI state at any moment for bug reports and diagnostics.
  • Environment Troubleshooting: Built-in guidance for common pitfalls like shell mismatches, stale loop locks, and premature captures.
  • Use Case: A provider's streaming output appears garbled in the ralph TUI. Spawn a split pane, launch ralph with the failing config, wait for streaming to begin, then capture the pane contents to document the exact rendering corruption.

Quick Start

Ask the AI to reproduce the TUI rendering issue by launching ralph in a tmux split pane and capturing the live output after streaming starts.

Frequently Asked Questions about tui-debug-in-pane

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I debug TUI rendering issues in a terminal application?▼

Run the TUI application in a tmux split pane so your main pane stays free for inspection. Use tmux capture-pane with the -p and -S flags to snapshot the visible output and scrollback history for analysis.

How to capture tmux pane output for bug reports?▼

Use tmux capture-pane -t PANE -p -S -60 to print the pane contents including 60 lines of scrollback. Wait 15-30 seconds after launching streaming applications before capturing, otherwise the content area appears empty.

Why do commands fail with command not found in a tmux split pane?▼

Split panes inherit the tmux server's default shell, often bash, rather than the parent pane's shell. If tools depend on another shell environment like fish with mise or Node, switch with exec /path/to/fish before running commands.

Why does ralph spawn worktree loops instead of running normally?▼

A stale .ralph/loop.lock file causes ralph to spawn worktree loops instead of a normal run. Delete the lock file and run git worktree prune before launching ralph in the debug pane.

When should I not use tmux split pane debugging for TUI apps?▼

Avoid this approach when the bug is not rendering-related, such as config parse errors or backend failures, since those are better diagnosed through log files in .ralph/diagnostics/logs/. It also requires tmux to be installed and running.

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