# PA Tmux Session Visual Theme Design

**Date:** 2025-12-29
**Status:** Approved

## Problem

The PA agent tmux session runs with `--dangerously-skip-permissions`, giving it elevated privileges. There's no visual indicator distinguishing it from normal tmux sessions, making it easy to forget you're in a privileged context.

## Solution

Create a separate tmux config file (`~/.tmux-pa.conf`) that applies a distinct "power mode" purple theme to the PA session only, while keeping Rose Pine Moon as the default for all other sessions.

## Design Decisions

| Decision | Choice | Rationale |
|----------|--------|-----------|
| Visual approach | Status bar color change | Immediate, unmistakable feedback |
| Color tone | Purple/magenta "power mode" | Conveys capability, not danger |
| Theme style | Dracula-ish purple | Distinct from Rose Pine Moon |
| Mode indicator | `⚡ PA` badge | Explicit, clean, punchy |
| Implementation | Separate config file | Clean separation, easy to maintain |

## Color Palette

| Element | Color | Hex |
|---------|-------|-----|
| Background | Deep purple | `#282a36` |
| Foreground | Light gray | `#f8f8f2` |
| Accent (active) | Bright purple | `#bd93f9` |
| Accent (secondary) | Cyan | `#8be9fd` |
| Accent (highlight) | Pink | `#ff79c6` |
| Muted text | Comment gray | `#6272a4` |

## Files to Create/Modify

### New: `~/.tmux-pa.conf`

```bash
# Source base config (inherits keybindings, plugins, settings)
source-file ~/.tmux.conf

# === Dracula Purple "Power Mode" Theme ===

# Status bar base
set -g status-style "bg=#282a36,fg=#f8f8f2"

# Left: PA badge
set -g status-left "#[bg=#ff79c6,fg=#282a36,bold] ⚡ PA #[bg=#282a36,fg=#ff79c6] "
set -g status-left-length 20

# Window status
set -g window-status-format "#[fg=#6272a4] #I:#W "
set -g window-status-current-format "#[fg=#bd93f9,bold] #I:#W "

# Right: host, directory, time
set -g status-right "#[fg=#8be9fd]#h #[fg=#6272a4]| #[fg=#bd93f9]#{pane_current_path} #[fg=#6272a4]| #[fg=#ff79c6]%Y-%m-%d %H:%M "
set -g status-right-length 80

# Pane borders
set -g pane-border-style "fg=#6272a4"
set -g pane-active-border-style "fg=#bd93f9"

# Message styling
set -g message-style "bg=#282a36,fg=#ff79c6"
```

### Modify: `~/.claude/automation/pa-mode`

Change the tmux invocation to use the PA-specific config:

```bash
# Before
exec tmux new-session -A -s "$SESSION_NAME" ...

# After
exec tmux -f ~/.tmux-pa.conf new-session -A -s "$SESSION_NAME" ...
```

## What Stays Unchanged

- `~/.tmux.conf` - Rose Pine Moon default, untouched
- All other tmux sessions - Continue using default config
- All keybindings, plugins, history settings - Inherited via `source-file`

## Testing

1. Start a normal tmux session - should show Rose Pine Moon theme
2. Run `pa-mode` - should show Dracula purple theme with `⚡ PA` badge
3. Verify keybindings work in PA session (inherited from base config)
4. Verify plugins load correctly in PA session