What is difference between zellij and tmux with similar configuration?

[santosh]

I have just tried zellij. What I feel at first use it, it is same as tmux which I am using in day to day work. What exactly is the difference?

[imsnif]

Zellij is not a tmux replacement. Zellij is not a screen replacement. Zellij is not a Byobu replacement. Zellij is not an i3 replacement. Zellij is not a browser replacement.

Zellij is Zellij. If you like it - use it. If you don't like it - don't use it.

Use it for its strengths, use it because it makes sense to you, use it because you want to be part of the journey, use it because it makes you feel good.

If you're trying to get it to behave like a different piece of software, I would heartily recommend you use said other piece of software. You would be happier in the end.

As the lead Zellij maintainer I am interested in innovating - I am not interested in cloning other software. I would be doing a disservice to my users by doing so. There are plenty of users who see this and are happy with the result. If you are not one of them, that's totally fine. Please keep using your tools and let the rest of us enjoy ourselves and make cool stuff. Thank you.

EDIT 2024: I deleted my previous comment because it kept being referred to by search engines and the like, turning a quick answer given to a user into a pseudo-official stance of the project. So here above is the pseudo official stance of the project made explicit.

[Stef16Robbe]

It's exactly these differences that instantly made me fall in love with Zellij. Sane defaults, an actual user-friendly interface instead of "go fetch", and added features that makes it much easier to use.

[Lockszmith-GH]

@imsnif Would you please create a pinned post titled "Zellij is not a XXX replacement"?
I found myself directing people to this response multiple times, feels like it would be easier to just type # followed by a number in future responses.

[alexmozaidze]

More is good

[ixzh]

my setup on android is 3 pane on left right and bottom. In tmux with mouse enabled, the bottom pane keeps on being squeezed after each app switch. with Zellij all stay put: it gives me inner peace.