name: zellij description: Use when editing ANY zellij configuration including layouts, swap layouts, keybindings, or zjstatus plugin. Provides rules for powerline characters, VHS testing, and verification.

Zellij Skill

Configuration Locations

• Layout files: home/.config/zellij/layouts/
• Plugin file: home/.config/zellij/plugins/zjstatus.wasm
• Always edit files in the dotfiles repo, not symlinked files in ~/.config/

Powerline Characters

Claude Code strips unicode characters. Use placeholders in the layout file (layout.kdl in this skill folder):

• {{PL_RIGHT}} - right-pointing arrow (U+E0B0)
• {{PL_LEFT}} - left-pointing arrow (U+E0B2)

After editing the layout, run the converter:

.claude/skills/zellij/convert-layout

This reads layout.kdl from the skill folder, replaces placeholders with actual powerline chars, and writes to ~/.config/zellij/layouts/layout.kdl.

VHS Testing

CRITICAL: NEVER run zellij commands in the user's active session. VHS creates its own isolated terminal.

CRITICAL: ALWAYS use the tapes in this skill folder. NEVER create ad-hoc tape files with different output names.

Use VHS to verify visual changes:

1. Delete any existing test session: zellij delete-session zellij-test
2. Run the appropriate tape from .claude/skills/zellij/:
   • layout.tape - Tests tabs and zjstatus bar appearance
   • swap-layout.tape - Tests swap layouts with multiple panes (creates 3 panes, cycles through layouts)
3. Output screenshot ALWAYS goes to tmp/zellij.png (same name, no versioning)
4. Read the screenshot to verify before telling user the fix is complete
5. Clean up the test session: zellij delete-session zellij-test

The tapes create a dedicated zellij-test session. Never use zellij action commands directly - they affect the user's current session.

Color Scheme

Use Catppuccin Mocha colors. Reference by name in requirements:

• base, surface1, lavender, text (not hex codes)

Top Bar Layout

• Session name, tabs with powerline arrows, hostname/username
• Arrows between tabs use base color as foreground
• Active tab: accent background, base text color
• Inactive tabs: surface background, text color

Bottom Bar Layout

• Mode indicator, active tab name only, datetime
• Show only active tab name (no inactive tabs)

Verification Checklist

Before declaring complete, verify:

• Top bar arrows use dark/base color between all tabs
• No accent color triangles between inactive tabs
• Bottom bar shows only active tab name
• Bottom bar has no powerline triangles
• Session name arrow transitions correctly to first tab