cmux-ref
Interpret pasted cmux workspace, pane, surface, or window refs and IDs. Use for cmux-ref, cmux-id, workspace_ref, workspace_id, pane_ref, pane_id, surface_ref, surface_id, window_ref, or window_id context blocks.
By manaflow-ai · 601 installs
npx skills add manaflow-ai/cmux-skills --skill cmux-ref
Source repository · Upstream listing
cmux Ref
Use this skill when the user pastes cmux topology identifiers and expects the agent to target that exact workspace, pane, surface, or window. Treat those identifiers as explicit routing context for later instructions.
What To Recognize
Users may paste any mix of these fields, in plain text, Markdown, JSON, YAML, shell style assignments, or logs:
Recognize these keys:
window ref , window id
workspace ref , workspace id
pane ref , pane id
surface ref , surface id
Also recognize bare refs near user intent, such as workspace:1 , pane:2 , or surface:370 .
Meaning
ref values are short cmux refs such as workspace:1 , pane:2 , and surface:370 . They are convenient for immediate CLI calls in the same cmux instance, but can be renumbered after state changes.
id values are UUIDs for the same objects. Prefer them for identity checks and stale ref recovery when both forms are available.
The most specific provided object is the default target: surface beats pane , pane beats workspace , and workspace beats window .
A complete block describes a hierarchy. Do not mix a surface id from one pasted block with a workspace ref from another unless the user clearly says they belong together.
Workflow
Step 1: Parse The Block
Extract keys case insensitively. Accept = or : separators and ignore quotes, commas, and code fences.
Useful pattern:
If the user provides only bare refs, bind the most specific one as the target:
Step 2: Announce The Target
When taking action, say the exact target briefly:
If a UUID is present, keep it in your internal target record and include it when useful for disambiguation:
Step 3: Verify Before Mutating
Before sending text, closing anything, moving surfaces, changing layout, or reading a screen for a non current target, verify the target exists in the active cmux socket.
Use the current cmux CLI and request both refs and UUIDs:
If a ref is stale but the UUID exists in tree all , use the current ref associated with that UUID. If neither the ref nor UUID can be found, stop and ask the user for a fresh cmux ref block.
Step 4: Use Explicit Targets
Do not fall back to the visually focused workspace when the user pasted explicit refs. Pass the parsed workspace, pane, and surface to cmux commands.
Examples:
If the command accepts only one handle, use the most specific relevant handle. Prefer the UUID when the command accepts UUIDs and you have verified it maps to the intended object.
Ambiguity Rules
Ask one concise question only when the target cannot be inferred safely:
Multiple unrelated ref blocks are pasted and the instruction says only "use this" or "that one".
A workspace ref and surface ref are both present but verification shows they belong to different current hierarchies.
The pasted identifiers are stale and no UUID match exists in cmux json id format both tree all .
Do not ask when one complete block is present. Use the most specific target in that block.
Safety Rules
User provided cmux refs override caller environment variables and visual focus.
Preserve both the ref and UUID in notes or scripts when available.
Do not change focus just to verify or use a target. Prefer non disruptive commands and focus false or no focus when supported.
Do not close, move, or send input to a target until it has been verified in the current socket.
Browser snapshot element refs are separate from cmux topology refs. Use cmux browser for DOM or webview snapshot refs.