Terminal multiplexers like screen or tmux are invaluable if you’re working on a PC over SSH or sitting in front of one that only has a command-line interface. Despite its age, screen is always my first choice. This is why.
Screen is included in almost every distro
You don’t have to worry about downloading another app
The biggest advantage of screen over other terminal multiplexers is its ubiquity. Every Linux PC I’ve used in the last 15 years has come with screen pre-installed, whether it was the most barebone version of Debian for a headless server or a fully-fledged desktop operating system like Kubuntu.
This has been especially handy when I’m working with headless servers that I don’t intend to ever put on the internet. I don’t need to worry about whether my SSH session is going to crash the long job I just queued because I don’t have the right program. Screen is going to be available.
On the other hand, tmux is far from universal. There is no guarantee that I’ll always have the required permissions to install a different terminal multiplexer.
Legacy systems support screen
Old systems run important services
Most of the time you want to keep your system up to date, but that isn’t always possible. Sometimes the software you’re working with only works on an older hardware set or operating system. Maybe your license only applies to a certain version which isn’t able to run on newer versions.
Whatever the case, I have run into scenarios where I am using a Linux system that is quite outdated. The oldest I’ve ever had to use was from 2005.
I tried the oldest Linux distro still standing, and it was a total reality check
In an era of automated updates and “easy” installers, Slackware 15.0 is a jarring reminder of what Linux used to be.
Despite being ancient in computer years, screen was present, and worked in basically the exact same fashion.
On the other hand, newer terminal multiplexers might be technically superior, but you’re definitely not going to find tmux natively on a PC that old. You may not even be able to install it because the system is so out of date.
It is simpler to use than tmux
Tmux is a great program. When you read the documentation, you’ll quickly find yourself thinking: “Wow, this program can do anything.”
If I really needed those features, that might be a selling point for me. But I don’t, and most people probably don’t either. Screen works well.
You can press Ctrl+A C to create a new screen, Ctrl+A N to go to the next screen, Ctrl+A P to to go the previous screen, or Ctrl+A D to disconnect. They’re simple, easy to remember controls.
The syntax for the command-line is similarly easy.
- screen -ls — Lists existing screens
- screen -S (name) — Creates a new screen with the specified name
- screen -r — Reconnects to the last session, or a session you specify
- screen -X -S (name) kill — Closes the session you name
The ease-of-use means that I don’t have to memorize a dozen or more different commands or shortcuts to manage my sessions. It also means that screen is very beginner-friendly, something that matters a lot when you’re trying to get your first Minecraft server running and don’t want to learn a complicated program in the process.
Even if I don’t touch screen for a few months or a year, the simple shortcuts and syntax mean I can sit down, open up an SSH connection, and get to work without missing a beat.
There isn’t much configuration you need to do
Simple to use and simple to customize
One of the big advantages of screen is the simplicity. That doesn’t only apply to the syntax and shortcuts, but the configuration files as well.
Screen’s settings are controlled by the .screenrc file. The default screenrc file is located in the /etc folder, while the file that controls the user’s individual settings is located in the user’s home folder. When you open screenrc up, you’ll find it is surprisingly short.
Some of the easiest and most helpful changes you can make are to the shortcuts (keybinds). I think the defaults are pretty intuitive, but if you’d like to change them, you can. You can also change the size of the scrollback, which you may find helpful if you want a long list of the commands you’ve entered.
The screen manual also details several other things you can change.
If you want to make screen fancier, there are dozens of modified screenrcs available on the internet that make it “better.” Just be sure to download them from a reputable source.
Sometimes simple is better
Screen doesn’t have complete feature parity with tmux, but in many situations that is actually a strength. Sometimes, if you’re looking for reliable, the old, simple solution is the best one.
Screen has saved my work when an SSH connection closes by accident more times than I can count, and I’m not going to give it up any time soon.
8/10
- Operating System
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Kubuntu 24.04 LTS
- CPU
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Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (2.7GHz up to 5.4GHz)
This laptop is purpose-built for developers and professionals who want a Kubuntu Linux-powered portable workstation and gaming platform. It features an Intel processor capable of hitting 5.4GHz and both integrated graphics and a dedicated NVIDIA 5070 Ti GPU for when you need extra power for machine learning or games.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
