nyngwang · April 23, 2025 07:52 · Jul 14, 2020 · Oct 17, 2019
diff --git a/macos-tmux-256color.md b/macos-tmux-256color.md
@@ -1,43 +1,96 @@
 # Installing tmux-256color for macOS
 
-macOS has ncurses version 5.7 which doesn't ship the terminfo description for tmux. There're two ways that can help you to solve this problem.
+* macOS 10.15.5
+* tmux 3.1b
+
+macOS has ncurses version 5.7 which does not ship the terminfo description for tmux.  There're two ways that can help you to solve this problem.
 
 ## The Fast Blazing Solution
 
-Instead of `tmux-256color` you can use `screen-256color`, place this command into your `~/.tmux.conf`.
+Instead of `tmux-256color`, use `screen-256color` which comes with system.  Place this command into `~/.tmux.conf` or `~/.config/tmux/tmux.conf`(for version 3.1 and later):
 
 ```
-set-option -g default-terminal "screen-256color"
+set-option default-terminal "screen-256color"
 ```
 
+The `screen-256color` in most cases is enough and more portable solution.  But it does not support any italic font style.
+
 ## The Right Way
 
-Firstly, we need to install latest version of ncurses by using `brew`.
+Unfortunately, The latest (6.2) ncurses version does not work properly.  Make sure to use ncurses which comes with macOS:  
+
+```
+$ which tic
+/usr/bin/tic
+```
+
+If you see another path to terminal info compiler, you must fix the `$PATH` for a shell, or uninstall a local ncurses by using a package manager.
+
+Let's download and unpack the latest nucurses terminal descriptions:
+
+```
+$ curl -LO https://invisible-island.net/datafiles/current/terminfo.src.gz && gunzip terminfo.src.gz
+```
+
+And compile `tmux-256color` terminal info.  The result is placed into `~/.terminfo`:
+
+```
+$ /usr/bin/tic -xe tmux-256color terminfo.src
+```
+
+If you want to use `tmux-256color` for all users, use `sudo`.  The result is placed into `/usr/share/terminfo`:
+
+```
+$ sudo /usr/bin/tic -xe tmux-256color terminfo.src
+```
+
+You may also to compile few more infos, it is up to you: 
 
 ```
-$ brew install ncurses
+$ /usr/bin/tic -xe alacritty-direct,tmux-256color terminfo.src
 ```
 
-After that, we're going to use `infocmp` that prints a terminfo description.
+If you see something like:
 
 ```
-$ /usr/local/opt/ncurses/bin/infocmp tmux-256color > ~/tmux-256color.info
+"terminfo.src", line 1650, terminal 'pccon+base': enter_bold_mode but no exit_attribute_mode
+"terminfo.src", line 1650, terminal 'pccon+base': enter_reverse_mode but no exit_attribute_mode
 ```
 
-Finally, we need to compile the description to our system database and set `default-terminal` into `~/.tmux.conf`.
+do not worry, all should be fine.  Make sure that you can use the compiled description:
 
 ```
-$ sudo tic -xe tmux-256color tmux-256color.info
+$ infocmp -x tmux-256color
 ```
 
+And finally, set default terminal in tmux configuration file:
+
 ```
-set-option -g default-terminal "tmux-256color"
+set-option default-terminal "tmux-256color"
 ```
 
 ## RGB Colors
 
-Also, don't forget to enable RGB. For instance, if you use [Alacritty](https://github.com/jwilm/alacritty) terminfo outside of tmux.
+Also, do not forget to enable RGB colors (24 bit colors, or true colors, as you like).  The `$TERM` outside tmux must support 256 colors.  Also, it must contains `Tc` or `RGB` flag in terminfo description:
+
+```
+$ tmux info | grep -e RGB -e Tc
+```
+
+If both are missing, then you need to override terminal description in tmux configuration file:
+
+```
+set-option -a terminal-overrides ",XXX:RGB"
+```
+
+where `XXX` is a terminal outside tmux, like `xterm-256color`.  And finally, `terminal-overrides` suports a pattern matching:
+
+```
+set-option -a terminal-overrides ",*256col*:RGB"
+```
+
+If you use [Alacritty](https://github.com/jwilm/alacritty) terminal, make sure the `$TERM` outside tmux is `alacritty-direct`.  The `alacritty` terminal description does not have `RGB` flag.  Otherwise, override description:
 
 ```
-set-option -sa terminal-overrides ",alacritty:RGB"
+set-option -a terminal-overrides ",alacritty:RGB"
 ```
diff --git a/macos-tmux-256color.md b/macos-tmux-256color.md
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+# Installing tmux-256color for macOS
+
+macOS has ncurses version 5.7 which doesn't ship the terminfo description for tmux. There're two ways that can help you to solve this problem.
+
+## The Fast Blazing Solution
+
+Instead of `tmux-256color` you can use `screen-256color`, place this command into your `~/.tmux.conf`.
+
+```
+set-option -g default-terminal "screen-256color"
+```
+
+## The Right Way
+
+Firstly, we need to install latest version of ncurses by using `brew`.
+
+```
+$ brew install ncurses
+```
+
+After that, we're going to use `infocmp` that prints a terminfo description.
+
+```
+$ /usr/local/opt/ncurses/bin/infocmp tmux-256color > ~/tmux-256color.info
+```
+
+Finally, we need to compile the description to our system database and set `default-terminal` into `~/.tmux.conf`.
+
+```
+$ sudo tic -xe tmux-256color tmux-256color.info
+```
+
+```
+set-option -g default-terminal "tmux-256color"
+```
+
+## RGB Colors
+
+Also, don't forget to enable RGB. For instance, if you use [Alacritty](https://github.com/jwilm/alacritty) terminfo outside of tmux.
+
+```
+set-option -sa terminal-overrides ",alacritty:RGB"
+```