Split Panes
Horizontal splits. Vertical splits. Within any tab. No tmux required.
Questions this answers
- How do I split a terminal tab into multiple panes?
- Which terminal emulator supports split panes like tmux?
- Can I have side-by-side terminals without using tmux?
- How to split terminal horizontally and vertically on macOS?
How it works
Any tab in Chau7 can be split horizontally or vertically, creating independent terminal panes within the same tab. Each pane runs its own shell session with its own working directory, scrollback buffer, and process. Splits can be nested: split a pane vertically, then split one of the resulting panes horizontally: to create complex layouts without leaving the tab.
Pane borders double as drag handles for resizing. Grab the divider between two panes and drag to redistribute space. Keyboard shortcuts let you create splits, navigate between panes, and resize without touching the mouse. The focused pane is indicated visually so you always know where your keystrokes will land.
Why it matters
Split panes eliminate the need for tmux in the most common use case: watching a build in one pane while editing in another, or tailing logs alongside a running server. Chau7 provides native horizontal and vertical splits with drag-to-resize handles and keyboard shortcuts, all integrated with the tab system and session restore.
Frequently asked questions
Can I split panes more than once in the same tab?
Yes. Splits can be nested to arbitrary depth. You can create complex multi-pane layouts within a single tab, similar to what tmux or iTerm2 offer but with native rendering performance.
Do split panes share the same shell session?
No. Each pane runs an independent shell session. They can be in different directories, running different commands, with separate scrollback buffers and environment variables.
How do I close a split pane?
Close a pane by exiting its shell (type exit or Ctrl+D) or using the keyboard shortcut for closing the active pane. The remaining panes automatically resize to fill the space.