Why is my status icon showing ERROR when the agent is IDLE?

This usually occurs when error strings from previous commands remain in the visible pane buffer. This skill helps you isolate the last few lines of output to refine your matching priority.

What agents does this skill support?

It is pre-configured to support OpenCode, Claude, and Amp, but the debugging patterns can be extended to any CLI-based AI agent running in a tmux pane.

How do I add a new detection pattern?

Use the 'Capture with control chars' command to see exactly what the terminal sees, then use the provided Python pattern testing snippet to verify your regex before implementation.

Do I need to be using Nix to use this skill?

While some specific debug scripts are tailored for Nix-wrapped Python environments, the core tmux capture and pattern testing commands work in any standard tmux setup.

Tmux Status Debugger

Name: Tmux Status Debugger
Author: edmundmiller

byedmundmiller

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Analytics & Monitoring

Debugs and tests tmux pane status detection for AI agents to ensure accurate state monitoring.

About

The Tmux Status Debugger is a specialized skill designed for developers who use AI agents within tmux and need reliable status tracking. It provides a suite of tools to troubleshoot why status icons might be misreporting agent states—such as showing an error when an agent is actually idle. The skill includes commands for capturing raw pane content, cleaning ANSI control characters, and testing regex patterns against live terminal output. It is particularly optimized for environments using Nix and the tmux-opencode-integrated plugin, allowing for deep inspection of agent behavior across multiple sessions and windows.

Key Features

List and filter all active AI agent panes across tmux sessions
Python-based debug script for automated status verification
Specific troubleshooting guides for Nix-wrapped environments
42 GitHub stars
Capture raw terminal content with visible control characters for regex debugging
Simulate status detection patterns against captured pane content

Use Cases

Fixing incorrect status icons like ERROR or BUSY in the tmux status bar
Auditing agent behavior and terminal output for hidden control character interference
Developing and testing new detection patterns for emerging AI coding agents

About

Key Features

List and filter all active AI agent panes across tmux sessions
Python-based debug script for automated status verification
Specific troubleshooting guides for Nix-wrapped environments
42 GitHub stars
Capture raw terminal content with visible control characters for regex debugging
Simulate status detection patterns against captured pane content

Use Cases

Fixing incorrect status icons like ERROR or BUSY in the tmux status bar
Auditing agent behavior and terminal output for hidden control character interference
Developing and testing new detection patterns for emerging AI coding agents