pi-tau-mux

Web UI that mirrors your Pi terminal session in the browser - tmux session aware

Package details

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extension

Install pi-tau-mux from npm and Pi will load the resources declared by the package manifest.

npm repohome report
$ pi install npm:pi-tau-mux
Package
pi-tau-mux
Version
1.0.9
Published
Mar 26, 2026
Downloads
37/mo · 12/wk
Author
dwainm
License
MIT
Types
extension
Size
518.1 KB
Dependencies
2 dependencies · 0 peers
Pi manifest JSON
{
  "extensions": [
    "./extensions/tau-client.ts"
  ],
  "image": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/deflating/tau/main/docs/images/dark.png"
}

Security note

Pi packages can execute code and influence agent behavior. Review the source before installing third-party packages.

README

pi-tau-mux

A lightweight client extension that connects Pi to pi-tau-mux-server.

This extension turns your Pi session into a client that registers with the standalone Tau mux server, enabling real-time mirroring in the browser across multiple Pi instances.

Architecture

┌─────────────┐                    ┌──────────────────────┐                    ┌─────────────┐
│  Pi TUI     │                    │  pi-tau-mux-server   │                    │  Browser    │
│  (terminal) │    WebSocket /pi    │  (standalone daemon) │    WebSocket /ws   │  (Tau UI)  │
│             │◄───────────────────►│                      │◄──────────────────►│             │
└─────────────┘                    │  Aggregates all      │                    └─────────────┘
                                   │  Pi instances        │
┌─────────────┐                    │                      │                    ┌─────────────┐
│  Pi TUI     │                    │  Serves web UI       │                    │  Phone      │
│  (another)  │◄───────────────────►│  Scans sessions      │◄──────────────────►│  (QR scan)  │
└─────────────┘                    └──────────────────────┘                    └─────────────┘

This extension = lightweight client (registers, forwards events, unregisters)
pi-tau-mux-server = standalone server (web UI, session browser, Tailscale support)

Install

pi install git:github.com/dwainm/pi-tau-mux

Usage

  1. Start the mux server (one-time or auto-start):

    pi-tau-mux-server

    Or let the extension prompt you when Pi starts.

  2. Start Pi normally — the extension auto-connects to the mux server

  3. Open the web UI at the URL shown (e.g., http://localhost:3001 or your Tailscale URL)

Commands

Command Description
/tauconnect Connect to the mux server
/taudisconnect Disconnect from the mux server

Environment Variables

Variable Default Description
TAU_HOST localhost Mux server host
TAU_PORT 3001 Mux server port
TAU_AUTO_CONNECT 1 Set to 0 to disable auto-connect

Features

Session Mirroring

  • Real-time streaming of messages, tool calls, and thinking blocks
  • Multiple Pi instances can connect to the same mux server
  • Browser shows all active sessions across projects

Tailscale Support

The mux server auto-detects Tailscale and uses your Tailscale IP or MagicDNS hostname. Scan the QR code from any device on your tailnet.

Session Browser

View history from any past Pi session, grouped by project. Active sessions show a "LIVE" indicator.

Related

Why the Split?

The original Tau ran an HTTP server inside each Pi process. This worked for single instances but caused issues with:

  • Multiple Pi instances (port conflicts)
  • Remote access (needed each port forwarded)
  • Resource usage (server per Pi process)

The mux architecture solves these:

  • One server for all Pi instances
  • One port to forward or expose via Tailscale
  • Session aggregation across all running Pi instances

License

MIT