Add jq and tmux expert skills (#414)
* Add jq and tmux expert skills for shell workflows Adds two practical, expert-level skills for bash/shell users: - jq: JSON querying and transformation with filtering, mapping, select, reduce, and shell pipeline integration - tmux: session/window/pane management, scripted layouts, automation patterns, and remote SSH workflows Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com> * chore(ci): Refresh PR checks --------- Co-authored-by: kostakost2 <kostakost2@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com> Co-authored-by: sickn33 <sickn33@users.noreply.github.com>
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273
skills/jq/SKILL.md
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273
skills/jq/SKILL.md
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---
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name: jq
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description: "Expert jq usage for JSON querying, filtering, transformation, and pipeline integration. Practical patterns for real shell workflows."
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category: development
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risk: safe
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source: community
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date_added: "2026-03-28"
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author: kostakost2
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tags: [jq, json, shell, cli, data-transformation, bash]
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tools: [claude, cursor, gemini]
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---
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# jq — JSON Querying and Transformation
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## Overview
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`jq` is the standard CLI tool for querying and reshaping JSON. This skill covers practical, expert-level usage: filtering deeply nested data, transforming structures, aggregating values, and composing `jq` into shell pipelines. Every example is copy-paste ready for real workflows.
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## When to Use This Skill
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- Use when parsing JSON output from APIs, CLI tools (AWS, GitHub, kubectl, docker), or log files
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- Use when transforming JSON structure (rename keys, flatten arrays, group records)
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- Use when the user needs `jq` inside a bash script or one-liner
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- Use when explaining what a complex `jq` expression does
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## How It Works
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`jq` takes a filter expression and applies it to JSON input. Filters compose with pipes (`|`), and `jq` handles arrays, objects, strings, numbers, booleans, and `null` natively.
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### Basic Selection
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```bash
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# Extract a field
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echo '{"name":"alice","age":30}' | jq '.name'
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# "alice"
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# Nested access
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echo '{"user":{"email":"a@b.com"}}' | jq '.user.email'
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# Array index
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echo '[10, 20, 30]' | jq '.[1]'
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# 20
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# Array slice
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echo '[1,2,3,4,5]' | jq '.[2:4]'
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# [3, 4]
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# All array elements
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echo '[{"id":1},{"id":2}]' | jq '.[]'
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```
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### Filtering with `select`
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```bash
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# Keep only matching elements
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echo '[{"role":"admin"},{"role":"user"},{"role":"admin"}]' \
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| jq '[.[] | select(.role == "admin")]'
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# Numeric comparison
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curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/owner/repo/issues \
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| jq '[.[] | select(.comments > 5)]'
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# Test a field exists and is non-null
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jq '[.[] | select(.email != null)]'
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# Combine conditions
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jq '[.[] | select(.active == true and .score >= 80)]'
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```
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### Mapping and Transformation
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```bash
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# Extract a field from every array element
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echo '[{"name":"alice","age":30},{"name":"bob","age":25}]' \
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| jq '[.[] | .name]'
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# ["alice", "bob"]
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# Shorthand: map()
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jq 'map(.name)'
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# Build a new object per element
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jq '[.[] | {user: .name, years: .age}]'
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# Add a computed field
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jq '[.[] | . + {senior: (.age > 28)}]'
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# Rename keys
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jq '[.[] | {username: .name, email_address: .email}]'
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```
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### Aggregation and Reduce
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```bash
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# Sum all values
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echo '[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]' | jq 'add'
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# 15
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# Sum a field across objects
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jq '[.[].price] | add'
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# Count elements
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jq 'length'
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# Max / min
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jq 'max_by(.score)'
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jq 'min_by(.created_at)'
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# reduce: custom accumulator
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echo '[1,2,3,4,5]' | jq 'reduce .[] as $x (0; . + $x)'
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# 15
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# Group by field
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jq 'group_by(.department)'
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# Count per group
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jq 'group_by(.status) | map({status: .[0].status, count: length})'
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```
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### String Interpolation and Formatting
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```bash
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# String interpolation
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jq -r '.[] | "\(.name) is \(.age) years old"'
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# Format as CSV (no header)
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jq -r '.[] | [.name, .age, .email] | @csv'
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# Format as TSV
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jq -r '.[] | [.name, .score] | @tsv'
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# URL-encode a value
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jq -r '.query | @uri'
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# Base64 encode
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jq -r '.data | @base64'
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```
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### Working with Keys and Paths
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```bash
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# List all top-level keys
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jq 'keys'
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# Check if key exists
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jq 'has("email")'
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# Delete a key
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jq 'del(.password)'
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# Delete nested keys from every element
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jq '[.[] | del(.internal_id, .raw_payload)]'
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# Recursive descent: find all values for a key anywhere in tree
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jq '.. | .id? // empty'
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# Get all leaf paths
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jq '[paths(scalars)]'
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```
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### Conditionals and Error Handling
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```bash
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# if-then-else
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jq 'if .score >= 90 then "A" elif .score >= 80 then "B" else "C" end'
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# Alternative operator: use fallback if null or false
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jq '.nickname // .name'
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# try-catch: skip errors instead of halting
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jq '[.[] | try .nested.value catch null]'
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# Suppress null output with // empty
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jq '.[] | .optional_field // empty'
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```
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### Practical Shell Integration
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```bash
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# Read from file
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jq '.users' data.json
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# Compact output (no whitespace) for further piping
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jq -c '.[]' records.json | while IFS= read -r record; do
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echo "Processing: $record"
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done
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# Pass a shell variable into jq
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STATUS="active"
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jq --arg s "$STATUS" '[.[] | select(.status == $s)]'
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# Pass a number
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jq --argjson threshold 42 '[.[] | select(.value > $threshold)]'
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# Slurp multiple JSON lines into an array
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jq -s '.' records.ndjson
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# Multiple files: slurp all into one array
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jq -s 'add' file1.json file2.json
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# Null-safe pipeline from a command
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kubectl get pods -o json | jq '.items[] | {name: .metadata.name, status: .status.phase}'
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# GitHub CLI: extract PR numbers
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gh pr list --json number,title | jq -r '.[] | "\(.number)\t\(.title)"'
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# AWS CLI: list running instance IDs
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aws ec2 describe-instances \
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| jq -r '.Reservations[].Instances[] | select(.State.Name=="running") | .InstanceId'
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# Docker: show container names and images
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docker inspect $(docker ps -q) | jq -r '.[] | "\(.Name)\t\(.Config.Image)"'
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```
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### Advanced Patterns
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```bash
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# Transpose an object of arrays to an array of objects
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# Input: {"names":["a","b"],"scores":[10,20]}
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jq '[.names, .scores] | transpose | map({name: .[0], score: .[1]})'
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# Flatten one level
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jq 'flatten(1)'
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# Unique by field
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jq 'unique_by(.email)'
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# Sort, deduplicate and re-index
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jq '[.[] | .name] | unique | sort'
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# Walk: apply transformation to every node recursively
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jq 'walk(if type == "string" then ascii_downcase else . end)'
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# env: read environment variables inside jq
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export API_KEY=secret
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jq -n 'env.API_KEY'
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```
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## Best Practices
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- Always use `-r` (raw output) when passing `jq` results to shell variables or other commands to strip JSON string quotes
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- Use `--arg` / `--argjson` to inject shell variables safely — never interpolate shell variables directly into filter strings
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- Prefer `map(f)` over `[.[] | f]` for readability
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- Use `-c` (compact) for newline-delimited JSON pipelines; omit it for human-readable debugging
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- Test filters interactively with `jq -n` and literal input before embedding in scripts
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- Use `empty` to drop unwanted elements rather than filtering to `null`
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## Security & Safety Notes
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- `jq` is read-only by design — it cannot write files or execute commands
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- Avoid embedding untrusted JSON field values directly into shell commands; always quote or use `--arg`
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## Common Pitfalls
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- **Problem:** `jq` outputs `null` instead of the expected value
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**Solution:** Check for typos in key names; use `keys` to inspect actual field names. Remember JSON is case-sensitive.
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- **Problem:** Numbers are quoted as strings in the output
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**Solution:** Use `--argjson` instead of `--arg` when injecting numeric values.
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- **Problem:** Filter works in the terminal but fails in a script
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**Solution:** Ensure the filter string uses single quotes in the shell to prevent variable expansion. Example: `jq '.field'` not `jq ".field"`.
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- **Problem:** `add` returns `null` on an empty array
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**Solution:** Use `add // 0` or `add // ""` to provide a fallback default.
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- **Problem:** Streaming large files is slow
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**Solution:** Use `jq --stream` or switch to `jstream`/`gron` for very large files.
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## Related Skills
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- `@bash-pro` — Wrapping jq calls in robust shell scripts
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- `@bash-linux` — General shell pipeline patterns
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- `@github-automation` — Using jq with GitHub CLI JSON output
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370
skills/tmux/SKILL.md
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skills/tmux/SKILL.md
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---
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name: tmux
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description: "Expert tmux session, window, and pane management for terminal multiplexing, persistent remote workflows, and shell scripting automation."
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category: development
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risk: safe
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source: community
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date_added: "2026-03-28"
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author: kostakost2
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tags: [tmux, terminal, multiplexer, sessions, shell, remote, automation]
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tools: [claude, cursor, gemini]
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---
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# tmux — Terminal Multiplexer
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## Overview
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`tmux` keeps terminal sessions alive across SSH disconnects, splits work across multiple panes, and enables fully scriptable terminal automation. This skill covers session management, window/pane layout, keybinding patterns, and using `tmux` non-interactively from shell scripts — essential for remote servers, long-running jobs, and automated workflows.
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## When to Use This Skill
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- Use when setting up or managing persistent terminal sessions on remote servers
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- Use when the user needs to run long-running processes that survive SSH disconnects
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- Use when scripting multi-pane terminal layouts (e.g., logs + shell + editor)
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- Use when automating `tmux` commands from bash scripts without user interaction
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## How It Works
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`tmux` has three hierarchy levels: **sessions** (top level, survives disconnects), **windows** (tabs within a session), and **panes** (splits within a window). Everything is controllable from outside via `tmux <command>` or from inside via the prefix key (`Ctrl-b` by default).
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### Session Management
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```bash
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# Create a new named session
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tmux new-session -s work
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# Create detached (background) session
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tmux new-session -d -s work
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# Create detached session and start a command
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tmux new-session -d -s build -x 220 -y 50 "make all"
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# Attach to a session
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tmux attach -t work
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tmux attach # attaches to most recent session
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# List all sessions
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tmux list-sessions
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tmux ls
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# Detach from inside tmux
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# Prefix + d (Ctrl-b d)
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# Kill a session
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tmux kill-session -t work
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# Kill all sessions except the current one
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tmux kill-session -a
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# Rename a session from outside
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tmux rename-session -t old-name new-name
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# Switch to another session from outside
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tmux switch-client -t other-session
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# Check if a session exists (useful in scripts)
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tmux has-session -t work 2>/dev/null && echo "exists"
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```
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### Window Management
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```bash
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# Create a new window in the current session
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tmux new-window -t work -n "logs"
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# Create a window running a specific command
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tmux new-window -t work:3 -n "server" "python -m http.server 8080"
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# List windows
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tmux list-windows -t work
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# Select (switch to) a window
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tmux select-window -t work:logs
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tmux select-window -t work:2 # by index
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# Rename a window
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tmux rename-window -t work:2 "editor"
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# Kill a window
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tmux kill-window -t work:logs
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# Move window to a new index
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tmux move-window -s work:3 -t work:1
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# From inside tmux:
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# Prefix + c — new window
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# Prefix + , — rename window
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# Prefix + & — kill window
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# Prefix + n/p — next/previous window
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# Prefix + 0-9 — switch to window by number
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```
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### Pane Management
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```bash
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# Split pane vertically (left/right)
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tmux split-window -h -t work:1
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# Split pane horizontally (top/bottom)
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tmux split-window -v -t work:1
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# Split and run a command
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tmux split-window -h -t work:1 "tail -f /var/log/syslog"
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# Select a pane by index
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tmux select-pane -t work:1.0
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# Resize panes
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tmux resize-pane -t work:1.0 -R 20 # expand right by 20 cols
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tmux resize-pane -t work:1.0 -D 10 # shrink down by 10 rows
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tmux resize-pane -Z # toggle zoom (fullscreen)
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# Swap panes
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tmux swap-pane -s work:1.0 -t work:1.1
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# Kill a pane
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tmux kill-pane -t work:1.1
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# From inside tmux:
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# Prefix + % — split vertical
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# Prefix + " — split horizontal
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# Prefix + arrow — navigate panes
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# Prefix + z — zoom/unzoom current pane
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# Prefix + x — kill pane
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# Prefix + {/} — swap pane with previous/next
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```
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### Sending Commands to Panes Without Being Attached
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```bash
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# Send a command to a specific pane and press Enter
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tmux send-keys -t work:1.0 "ls -la" Enter
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# Run a command in a background pane without attaching
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tmux send-keys -t work:editor "vim src/main.py" Enter
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# Send Ctrl+C to stop a running process
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tmux send-keys -t work:1.0 C-c
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# Send text without pressing Enter (useful for pre-filling prompts)
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tmux send-keys -t work:1.0 "git commit -m '"
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# Clear a pane
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tmux send-keys -t work:1.0 "clear" Enter
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# Check what's in a pane (capture its output)
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tmux capture-pane -t work:1.0 -p
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tmux capture-pane -t work:1.0 -p | grep "ERROR"
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```
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### Scripting a Full Workspace Layout
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This is the most powerful pattern: create a fully configured multi-pane workspace from a single script.
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```bash
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#!/usr/bin/env bash
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set -euo pipefail
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SESSION="dev"
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# Bail if session already exists
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tmux has-session -t "$SESSION" 2>/dev/null && {
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echo "Session $SESSION already exists. Attaching..."
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tmux attach -t "$SESSION"
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exit 0
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}
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# Create session with first window
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tmux new-session -d -s "$SESSION" -n "editor" -x 220 -y 50
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# Window 1: editor + test runner side by side
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tmux send-keys -t "$SESSION:editor" "vim ." Enter
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tmux split-window -h -t "$SESSION:editor"
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tmux send-keys -t "$SESSION:editor.1" "npm test -- --watch" Enter
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tmux select-pane -t "$SESSION:editor.0"
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# Window 2: server logs
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tmux new-window -t "$SESSION" -n "server"
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tmux send-keys -t "$SESSION:server" "docker compose up" Enter
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tmux split-window -v -t "$SESSION:server"
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tmux send-keys -t "$SESSION:server.1" "tail -f logs/app.log" Enter
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# Window 3: general shell
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tmux new-window -t "$SESSION" -n "shell"
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# Focus first window
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tmux select-window -t "$SESSION:editor"
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# Attach
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tmux attach -t "$SESSION"
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```
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### Configuration (`~/.tmux.conf`)
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```bash
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# Change prefix to Ctrl-a (screen-style)
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unbind C-b
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set -g prefix C-a
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bind C-a send-prefix
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# Enable mouse support
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set -g mouse on
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# Start window/pane numbering at 1
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set -g base-index 1
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setw -g pane-base-index 1
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# Renumber windows when one is closed
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||||
set -g renumber-windows on
|
||||
|
||||
# Increase scrollback buffer
|
||||
set -g history-limit 50000
|
||||
|
||||
# Use vi keys in copy mode
|
||||
setw -g mode-keys vi
|
||||
|
||||
# Faster key repetition
|
||||
set -s escape-time 0
|
||||
|
||||
# Reload config without restarting
|
||||
bind r source-file ~/.tmux.conf \; display "Config reloaded"
|
||||
|
||||
# Intuitive splits: | and -
|
||||
bind | split-window -h -c "#{pane_current_path}"
|
||||
bind - split-window -v -c "#{pane_current_path}"
|
||||
|
||||
# New windows open in current directory
|
||||
bind c new-window -c "#{pane_current_path}"
|
||||
|
||||
# Status bar
|
||||
set -g status-right "#{session_name} | %H:%M %d-%b"
|
||||
set -g status-interval 5
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### Copy Mode and Scrollback
|
||||
|
||||
```bash
|
||||
# Enter copy mode (scroll up through output)
|
||||
# Prefix + [
|
||||
|
||||
# In vi mode:
|
||||
# / to search forward, ? to search backward
|
||||
# Space to start selection, Enter to copy
|
||||
# q to exit copy mode
|
||||
|
||||
# Paste the most recent buffer
|
||||
# Prefix + ]
|
||||
|
||||
# List paste buffers
|
||||
tmux list-buffers
|
||||
|
||||
# Show the most recent buffer
|
||||
tmux show-buffer
|
||||
|
||||
# Save buffer to a file
|
||||
tmux save-buffer /tmp/tmux-output.txt
|
||||
|
||||
# Load a file into a buffer
|
||||
tmux load-buffer /tmp/data.txt
|
||||
|
||||
# Pipe pane output to a command
|
||||
tmux pipe-pane -t work:1.0 "cat >> ~/session.log"
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### Practical Automation Patterns
|
||||
|
||||
```bash
|
||||
# Idempotent session: create or attach
|
||||
ensure_session() {
|
||||
local name="$1"
|
||||
tmux has-session -t "$name" 2>/dev/null \
|
||||
|| tmux new-session -d -s "$name"
|
||||
tmux attach -t "$name"
|
||||
}
|
||||
|
||||
# Run a command in a new background window and tail its output
|
||||
run_bg() {
|
||||
local session="${1:-main}" cmd="${*:2}"
|
||||
tmux new-window -t "$session" -n "bg-$$"
|
||||
tmux send-keys -t "$session:bg-$$" "$cmd" Enter
|
||||
}
|
||||
|
||||
# Wait for a pane to produce specific output (polling)
|
||||
wait_for_output() {
|
||||
local target="$1" pattern="$2" timeout="${3:-30}"
|
||||
local elapsed=0
|
||||
while (( elapsed < timeout )); do
|
||||
tmux capture-pane -t "$target" -p | grep -q "$pattern" && return 0
|
||||
sleep 1
|
||||
(( elapsed++ ))
|
||||
done
|
||||
return 1
|
||||
}
|
||||
|
||||
# Kill all background windows matching a name prefix
|
||||
kill_bg_windows() {
|
||||
local session="$1" prefix="${2:-bg-}"
|
||||
tmux list-windows -t "$session" -F "#W" \
|
||||
| grep "^${prefix}" \
|
||||
| while read -r win; do
|
||||
tmux kill-window -t "${session}:${win}"
|
||||
done
|
||||
}
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### Remote and SSH Workflows
|
||||
|
||||
```bash
|
||||
# SSH and immediately attach to an existing session
|
||||
ssh user@host -t "tmux attach -t work || tmux new-session -s work"
|
||||
|
||||
# Run a command on remote host inside a tmux session (fire and forget)
|
||||
ssh user@host "tmux new-session -d -s deploy 'bash /opt/deploy.sh'"
|
||||
|
||||
# Watch the remote session output from another terminal
|
||||
ssh user@host -t "tmux attach -t deploy -r" # read-only attach
|
||||
|
||||
# Pair programming: share a session (both users attach to the same session)
|
||||
# User 1:
|
||||
tmux new-session -s shared
|
||||
# User 2 (same server):
|
||||
tmux attach -t shared
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
## Best Practices
|
||||
|
||||
- Always name sessions (`-s name`) in scripts — unnamed sessions are hard to target reliably
|
||||
- Use `tmux has-session -t name 2>/dev/null` before creating to make scripts idempotent
|
||||
- Set `-x` and `-y` when creating detached sessions to give panes a proper size for commands that check terminal dimensions
|
||||
- Use `send-keys ... Enter` for automation rather than piping stdin — it works even when the target pane is running an interactive program
|
||||
- Keep `~/.tmux.conf` in version control for reproducibility across machines
|
||||
- Prefer `bind -n` for bindings that don't need the prefix, but only for keys that don't conflict with application shortcuts
|
||||
|
||||
## Security & Safety Notes
|
||||
|
||||
- `send-keys` executes commands in a pane without confirmation — verify the target (`-t session:window.pane`) before use in scripts to avoid sending keystrokes to the wrong pane
|
||||
- Read-only attach (`-r`) is appropriate when sharing sessions with others to prevent accidental input
|
||||
- Avoid storing secrets in tmux window/pane titles or environment variables exported into sessions on shared machines
|
||||
|
||||
## Common Pitfalls
|
||||
|
||||
- **Problem:** `tmux` commands from a script fail with "no server running"
|
||||
**Solution:** Start the server first with `tmux start-server`, or create a detached session before running other commands.
|
||||
|
||||
- **Problem:** Pane size is 0x0 when creating a detached session
|
||||
**Solution:** Pass explicit dimensions: `tmux new-session -d -s name -x 200 -y 50`.
|
||||
|
||||
- **Problem:** `send-keys` types the text but doesn't run the command
|
||||
**Solution:** Ensure you pass `Enter` (capital E) as a second argument: `tmux send-keys -t target "cmd" Enter`.
|
||||
|
||||
- **Problem:** Script creates a duplicate session each run
|
||||
**Solution:** Guard with `tmux has-session -t name 2>/dev/null || tmux new-session -d -s name`.
|
||||
|
||||
- **Problem:** Copy-mode selection doesn't work as expected
|
||||
**Solution:** Confirm `mode-keys vi` or `mode-keys emacs` is set to match your preference in `~/.tmux.conf`.
|
||||
|
||||
## Related Skills
|
||||
|
||||
- `@bash-pro` — Writing the shell scripts that orchestrate tmux sessions
|
||||
- `@bash-linux` — General Linux terminal patterns used inside tmux panes
|
||||
- `@ssh` — Combining tmux with SSH for persistent remote workflows
|
||||
Reference in New Issue
Block a user