s was created out of respect for screen's capabilities while acknowledging that developers often need a streamlined interface for their most common terminal session tasks. It preserves all the power of screen but provides a simplified command layer for day-to-day usage.

Quick Start Guide

Experience the simplicity in just 10 seconds

Try It in 10 Seconds
# 1. Install
alex@server:~$ curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kolarski/s/master/install.sh | bash

# 2. Check for existing sessions
alex@server:~$ s
No active screen sessions.
To create a new session, run: s <session-name>

# 3. Create a new session
alex@server:~$ s my-project
Creating new session 'my-project'...

# 4. Do some work, then detach when needed (standard screen command)
Ctrl+A, then D

# 5. List sessions (notice your session is now visible)
alex@server:~$ s
ID              NAME                           CREATED AT          
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1372328         my-project                     21.03.2025 13:16:53 

# 6. Reattach to your session
alex@server:~$ s my-project
Attaching to session 'my-project'...

# 7. When completely finished, kill the session
alex@server:~$ s kill my-project
Session 'my-project' terminated.

What to expect:

  • When you run s you'll see a clean table of all sessions
  • s my-project smartly attaches to existing sessions or confirms before creating new ones
  • Standard screen shortcuts work inside sessions

New to terminal sessions? Once inside a session, you can:

  • Run commands that continue even if you disconnect
  • Create multiple terminal windows (Ctrl+A, C)
  • Switch between windows (Ctrl+A, 0-9)
  • Disconnect and reconnect later exactly where you left off
  • For more commands, press Ctrl+A, ? for the help menu

What are Terminal Sessions?

Terminal sessions (via tools like screen or tmux) let you:

  • Keep processes running even after you disconnect from SSH or close your terminal
  • Resume your work exactly where you left off
  • Run multiple terminal windows within a single connection
  • Share terminal sessions with teammates for collaboration

If you're using SSH to connect to servers or running long processes that you don't want to lose when your connection drops, terminal sessions are essential.

The Problem

The standard Linux screen utility is powerful but notoriously difficult to use:

For newcomers

Steep learning curve with complex commands and unintuitive syntax

For experienced users

Common frustrations that shift focus from your work:

  • Multi-step commands to attach to already-attached sessions
  • Having to recall specific syntax when you need to manage sessions

For everyone

Messy session lists, accidental duplicate sessions, and complicated management

You're not alone. Thousands of developers wish for a simpler way to handle these tasks without the cognitive overhead.

Why Developers Stick With s

One-Letter Simplicity

Just type s and you're productive

Zero Learning Curve

If you can type, you can use it

Smart Context Awareness

Creates or attaches based on what you need

Increased Productivity

Save ~5-10 seconds on every session interaction (adds up to hours saved!)

Designed for Real Workflows

Built by developers for actual day-to-day usage patterns

Built with Modern Engineering

Written in Rust with zero dependencies for speed and reliability

What Users Say

"I've been using screen for 10 years and switching to s has been a game-changer. So much simpler!"

J

Jane D.

DevOps Engineer

"This tiny tool saves me at least 15 minutes of frustration every day."

M

Michael T.

Backend Developer

"I installed this on our entire team's machines. Everyone loves it."

S

Sara L.

Team Lead

Installation

Get started in seconds

Quick Install (Recommended)

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kolarski/s/master/install.sh | bash

The script intelligently:

  • Detects your OS
  • Downloads the appropriate binary
  • Installs to the correct location
  • Adds to your PATH if needed

Manual Binary Download

You can also download the pre-compiled binary directly from the GitHub releases page:

  1. Download the appropriate binary for your system (Linux or macOS)
  2. Make it executable: chmod +x s-linux-amd64 or chmod +x s-macos-amd64
  3. Move it to a directory in your PATH: mv s-linux-amd64 /usr/local/bin/s or mv s-macos-amd64 /usr/local/bin/s

From Source

git clone https://github.com/kolarski/s.git
cd s
cargo install --path .

Requirements

  • Linux screen command must be installed
  • Compatible with Linux and macOS