Configure iTerm2 workspace layouts with proper separation of concerns: private paths in TOML config, publishable code in Python script.
Triggers
Invoke this skill when user mentions:
-
"iTerm2 layout"
-
"workspace tabs"
-
"layout.toml"
-
"AutoLaunch script"
-
"default-layout.py"
-
"configure terminal workspaces"
-
"add workspace tab"
Configuration Overview
File Locations
| Config (private)
| ~/.config/iterm2/layout.toml
| User's workspace paths
| Script (public)
| ~/scripts/iterm2/default-layout.py
| Layout logic
| Template
| ~/scripts/iterm2/layout.example.toml
| Example config
Config File Format
# ~/.config/iterm2/layout.toml
[layout]
left_pane_ratio = 0.20 # 0.0 to 1.0
settle_time = 0.3 # seconds
[commands]
left = "br --sort-by-type-dirs-first"
right = "zsh"
[worktrees]
# Optional: Enable git worktree discovery
# main_repo_root = "~/projects/my-project"
# worktree_pattern = "my-project.worktree-*"
[[tabs]]
name = "home"
dir = "~"
[[tabs]]
name = "projects"
dir = "~/projects"
[[tabs]]
dir = "~/Documents" # name defaults to "Documents"
Setup Instructions
First-Time Setup
/usr/bin/env bash << 'CONFIG_EOF'
# 1. Ensure config directory exists
mkdir -p ~/.config/iterm2
# 2. Copy template
cp ~/scripts/iterm2/layout.example.toml ~/.config/iterm2/layout.toml
# 3. Edit with your workspace paths
# Add [[tabs]] entries for each workspace
# 4. Restart iTerm2 to test
CONFIG_EOF
Adding a New Tab
Add a [[tabs]] entry to ~/.config/iterm2/layout.toml:
[[tabs]]
name = "MyProject" # Tab display name (optional)
dir = "~/path/to/project"
Name field:
-
If omitted, uses directory basename
-
Custom names useful for abbreviations (e.g., "AF" instead of "alpha-forge")
Removing a Tab
Delete or comment out the [[tabs]] entry:
# [[tabs]]
# name = "OldProject"
# dir = "~/old/project"
Configuration Schema
| [layout]
| left_pane_ratio
| float
| 0.20
| Left pane width (0.0-1.0)
| [layout]
| settle_time
| float
| 0.3
| Wait after cd (seconds)
| [commands]
| left
| string
| br...
| Left pane command
| [commands]
| right
| string
| zsh
| Right pane command
| [worktrees]
| alpha_forge_root
| string
| null
| Worktree root (optional)
| [worktrees]
| worktree_pattern
| string
| *.worktree-*
| Glob pattern
| [[tabs]]
| dir
| string
| required
| Directory path
| [[tabs]]
| name
| string
| basename
| Tab display name
Troubleshooting
Error: "Layout configuration not found"
Symptom: Script Console shows error about missing config
Solution:
# Create config from template
cp ~/scripts/iterm2/layout.example.toml ~/.config/iterm2/layout.toml
Error: "Invalid TOML syntax"
Symptom: Script Console shows TOML parse error
Solution:
-
Check TOML syntax (quotes, brackets)
-
Validate with:
python3 -c "import tomllib; tomllib.load(open('~/.config/iterm2/layout.toml', 'rb'))"
Tabs Not Appearing
Symptom: iTerm2 opens but no custom tabs created
Causes:
-
No
[[tabs]]entries in config -
Config file in wrong location
-
Script not in AutoLaunch
Solution:
# Verify config location
ls -la ~/.config/iterm2/layout.toml
# Verify AutoLaunch symlink
ls -la ~/Library/Application\ Support/iTerm2/Scripts/AutoLaunch/
# Check Script Console for errors
# iTerm2 > Scripts > Manage > Console
Directory Does Not Exist Warning
Symptom: Tab skipped with warning in Script Console
Solution: Verify directory path exists or create it:
mkdir -p ~/path/to/missing/directory
Error Handling Behavior
The script uses "print + early return" pattern:
-
Missing config: Logs instructions to Script Console, exits cleanly
-
Invalid TOML: Logs parse error with details, exits cleanly
-
Missing directory: Logs warning, skips tab, continues with others
Viewing errors: Scripts > Manage > Console in iTerm2
Git Worktree Detection (Optional)
Enable dynamic tab creation for git worktrees:
[worktrees]
main_repo_root = "~/projects/my-project"
worktree_pattern = "my-project.worktree-*"
How it works:
-
Script globs for
~/projects/my-project.worktree-*directories -
Validates each against
git worktree list -
Generates acronym-based tab names (e.g.,
AF-ssvforsharpe-statistical-validation) -
Inserts worktree tabs after main project tab