I am trying to split the screen to view VIM and the terminal at the same time and I am unsure if I am doing something wrong. The directions I've seen say to install screen (was already installed for me version 4.1.0) and to input "screen" into the terminal then input "Ctrl a |", this is not working for me.
When I type "screen" in the terminal it outputs "Cannot make directory '/var/run/screen': Permission denied". When I input "sudo screen" the screen clears and outputs "[screen is terminating]" from which the terminal works but the screen hotkeys still do not seem to work. If I input "screen" again, it clears the screen again.
"Info Screen" brings me to the documentation page that says to use "C-a" which I am assuming means "Ctrl a" but that does not seem to work (I am holding ctrl and pressing lowercase 'a'). This is my first post so please let me know if I can improve the format of my question (not sure of the correct tag for WSL) and thank you very much for your time.
edit: I have been using tmux for a week now with no problems and I have been avoiding the inherent problem of screen not functioning as planned. From root directory, when I type "ls -ld /var/run/screen" or "ls -l /var/run/screen", I receive the same output "ls: cannot access /var/run/screen: No such file or directory". When I input "ll" or "ls -l", I do not see the directory var.
32 Answers
Update @ 2016-09-09:
screen should now work fine on Windows 10 RS2 Insiders builds 14915+. See release notes and update in associated bug #774 for more details.
[PS: Please accept this if it answers your question. Thanks.]
2016-08-29 - There's an issue in WSL in Win10AU that prevents screen from operating correctly. The team is working on a fix and will release via the Windows Insiders builds in the coming weeks. Sorry for the inconvenience.
In the interim, you might want to try tmux which works well.
2In your terminal, start screen by typing 'screen' and then hitting enter. Now all commands start with Ctrl-a. That's hold the Ctrl key while pressing lower case a. The next character you enter after that will be the command. Here we go...
Press Ctrl-a and then Shift-S (capital S) That will split the screen. If you press a lowercase s you may need to exit and restart you terminal and screen. Next...
Press Ctrl-a and then Tab. This will put focus on the lower screen. In that screen press Ctrl-a and then c. That will start a new session in that window.
Press Ctrl-a and then Tab to switch back to the upper screen. Pick the one you want your editor to be in and start it as you normally would. Use Ctrl-a and then Tab to go back and forth as desired. A fairly good list of instructions can be found and this LINK
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