Zellij Layouts

Zellij layouts for Claude Code projects, Docker, pentesting, malware analysis, and OSINT — launch a full workspace with one command

Zellij is a terminal multiplexer (like tmux/screen) with a layout system that lets you define pane arrangements in .kdl files. This repo provides ready-to-use layouts you can launch with a single command.

Quick start

git clone <this-repo> ~/zellij-conf
cd ~/zellij-conf
make setup      # one-time: create working directories
make install    # validate and install all layouts

Then launch any layout:

zellij --layout project options --default-cwd ~/projects/my-app

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What is a layout?

A Zellij layout is a .kdl file that describes:

• Tabs — named workspaces you switch between (Ctrl+t)
• Panes — terminal splits within a tab (vertical/horizontal)
• Commands — auto-run commands in specific panes (e.g. watch git status)

Layouts live in ~/.config/zellij/layouts/. Zellij finds them by name:

zellij --layout <name>           # loads ~/.config/zellij/layouts/<name>.kdl

Official docs: zellij.dev/documentation/layouts

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Available layouts

claude-projects — Multi-project workspace

zp       # alias (named session: "claude")

Multiple project tabs generated from generate-layout.sh, each with:

• 70% left — main shell (focused)
• 30% right — live git status (top) + log tail or shell (bottom)

Plus fixed tabs: 🏠 cockpit (btop + ccusage) and 🧪 scratch.

project — Single project

zo ~/projects/my-app    # alias
zp-new my-app           # creates dir + named session "my-app"

Same pane pattern as above, without the cockpit. Use --default-cwd to point it at any directory.

docker — Docker / Compose

zdk                     # alias (session: "docker", cwd: ~/docker)
zdk-new my-stack        # creates ~/docker/my-stack, session "dk-my-stack"

Tab	Panes
🐳 stack	Compose commands + live docker ps + image shell
📜 logs	docker compose logs -f + docker stats
🔧 debug	Container exec + build shell

pentest — Penetration testing

zpt                     # alias (session: "pentest", cwd: ~/ops/pentest)
zpt-new acme-corp       # creates ~/ops/pentest/acme-corp, session "pt-acme-corp"

Tab	Panes
🎯 recon	Scanner + enum + network monitor + notes
⚔️ exploit	MSF + payload + listener + proxy
🔓 post	Session + pivot + process monitor + loot
📝 loot	Hash cracking + report

malware-analysis — Malware analysis

zma                     # alias (session: "malware", cwd: ~/ops/malware)
zma-new emotet          # creates ~/ops/malware/emotet, session "ma-emotet"

Tab	Panes
🔬 static	file/strings/objdump + disasm + hex + YARA
🧪 dynamic	strace/ltrace + sandbox + process & file monitors
🌐 network	tcpdump + DNS + connection tracker + FakeNet
📋 ioc	Hash/VT lookups + strings + report

osint — OSINT investigation

zos                     # alias (session: "osint", cwd: ~/ops/osint)
zos-new target-co       # creates ~/ops/osint/target-co, session "os-target-co"

Tab	Panes
🎯 target	whois/dig + Shodan/Censys + IP lookup + notes
🌐 web	Wayback/archive + metadata + tech stack + certs
📡 social	Username/email/phone/leak search
🗂️ timeline	Report + data correlation + evidence log

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How sessions work

Zellij sessions persist after you detach. You can have multiple sessions running simultaneously and switch between them.

zellij --session myname --layout project   # start a named session

If a session with that name already exists, Zellij reattaches to it instead of creating a duplicate.

Action	Command / Keybind
List sessions	zls
Attach to session	za <name>
Detach (keeps running)	Ctrl+o then d
Switch session (inside Zellij)	Ctrl+o then w
Kill one session	zks <name>
Kill all sessions	zka

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Navigating inside Zellij

Zellij uses modes — press a key combo to enter a mode, do your thing, press Esc to exit.

Tabs

Action	Keybind
Enter tab mode	Ctrl+t
Next / previous tab	l / h (or → / ←)
Go to tab by number	1–9
New tab	n
Rename tab	r

Panes

Action	Keybind
Enter pane mode	Ctrl+p
Move focus	h/j/k/l (or arrows)
Toggle full-screen	f

Scrolling

Action	Keybind
Enter scroll mode	Ctrl+s
Scroll	↑/↓ or PgUp/PgDn
Search in output	s (then type)

Full keybinding reference: zellij.dev/documentation/keybindings

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Shell setup

Add these aliases and functions to your .zshrc or .bashrc:

Aliases

# Zellij
alias z='zellij'

# Layouts (with named sessions)
alias zp='zellij --session claude --layout claude-projects'
alias zo='zellij --layout project options --default-cwd'
alias zdk='zellij --session docker --layout docker options --default-cwd ~/docker'
alias zpt='zellij --session pentest --layout pentest options --default-cwd ~/ops/pentest'
alias zma='zellij --session malware --layout malware-analysis options --default-cwd ~/ops/malware'
alias zos='zellij --session osint --layout osint options --default-cwd ~/ops/osint'

# Session management
alias zls='zellij list-sessions'
alias za='zellij attach'
alias zks='zellij kill-session'
alias zka='rm -rf ~/.cache/zellij'

Per-engagement functions

These create a fresh directory and launch a named session in one step:

# zpt-new acme    → ~/ops/pentest/acme, session "pt-acme"
# zma-new emotet  → ~/ops/malware/emotet, session "ma-emotet"
# zos-new corp    → ~/ops/osint/corp, session "os-corp"
# zdk-new stack   → ~/docker/stack, session "dk-stack"
# zp-new my-app   → ~/projects/my-app, session "my-app"

zpt-new() {
  [[ -z "$1" ]] && { echo "Usage: zpt-new <name>"; return 1; }
  mkdir -p "$HOME/ops/pentest/$1"
  zellij --session "pt-$1" --layout pentest options --default-cwd "$HOME/ops/pentest/$1"
}

zma-new() {
  [[ -z "$1" ]] && { echo "Usage: zma-new <name>"; return 1; }
  mkdir -p "$HOME/ops/malware/$1"
  zellij --session "ma-$1" --layout malware-analysis options --default-cwd "$HOME/ops/malware/$1"
}

zos-new() {
  [[ -z "$1" ]] && { echo "Usage: zos-new <name>"; return 1; }
  mkdir -p "$HOME/ops/osint/$1"
  zellij --session "os-$1" --layout osint options --default-cwd "$HOME/ops/osint/$1"
}

zdk-new() {
  [[ -z "$1" ]] && { echo "Usage: zdk-new <name>"; return 1; }
  mkdir -p "$HOME/docker/$1"
  zellij --session "dk-$1" --layout docker options --default-cwd "$HOME/docker/$1"
}

zp-new() {
  [[ -z "$1" ]] && { echo "Usage: zp-new <name>"; return 1; }
  mkdir -p "$HOME/projects/$1"
  zellij --session "$1" --layout project options --default-cwd "$HOME/projects/$1"
}

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Customising claude-projects

This is the only generated layout. Edit the projects array in generate-layout.sh:

projects=(
  "my-app:🚀::logs/dev.log"   # dirname:emoji:label:logfile
  "api:🔌:backend-api:"        # empty logfile → plain shell pane
)

Format: "dirname:emoji:label:logfile"

• dirname — subdirectory under ~/projects/
• emoji — tab icon
• label — tab display name (defaults to dirname if empty)
• logfile — path to tail relative to project dir (omit for plain shell)

Then run make install.

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Make targets

make            # regenerate claude-projects.kdl
make install    # lint + regenerate + install all layouts
make uninstall  # remove installed layouts (keeps local files)
make clean      # remove generated + installed files
make setup      # create ~/ops/{pentest,malware,osint}
make lint       # validate KDL brace balance
make list       # show installed layouts
make help       # show all targets

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Tips

• Keybind conflicts? Press Ctrl+g to enter locked mode — all keys pass through to the app (e.g. Claude Code). Press Ctrl+g again to unlock and use Zellij keybinds.
• Reattach, don't relaunch. Running zpt twice reattaches to the existing "pentest" session — it won't create a duplicate.
• Full-screen a pane with Ctrl+p f when you need more space, then Ctrl+p f again to restore.
• Scroll back with Ctrl+s — useful for reading long command output. Press s inside scroll mode to search.
• Rename tabs with Ctrl+t r — handy for per-engagement tabs in the security layouts.
• Floating pane with Ctrl+p w — spawns a temporary pane on top without changing your layout.
• Sync panes — Ctrl+t s toggles sync mode: type in one pane, it echoes to all panes in the tab. Great for running the same command across multiple shells.
• Copy mode — Ctrl+s then select text with arrows + Enter. Works without mouse.
• Pipe pane output — zellij pipe lets you send pane output to external scripts.

More tips: zellij.dev/documentation

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Resources

• Zellij GitHub
• KDL language spec
• Zellij layout docs
• Zellij keybindings
• Zellij plugin system