Fix Windows: use cmd.exe /c for tmux command chain

psmux on Windows doesn't handle ; separators when args are passed
individually via exec.Command. On Windows, build the full tmux
command string and run it through cmd.exe /c instead.

LICENSE

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 MIT License
 
-Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle
+Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
 
 Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
 of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal

PLAN.md

@@ -66,13 +66,14 @@ is still open. For the full requirements, see [SPEC.md](SPEC.md).
 - [ ] Paginate/scroll the secrets diff table for secrets with many fields
       instead of relying on terminal wrapping.
 
-## Phase 3 — Windows-native support (open, secondary priority)
+## Phase 3 — Windows-native support (done)
 
-- [ ] Detect OS at runtime; on native Windows (no WSL), fall back to
+- [x] Windows support via [psmux](https://github.com/marlocarlo/psmux) —
-      `wt.exe split-pane` instead of `tmux` for the status panes.
+      a native, tmux-compatible terminal multiplexer. kctl-tui works
-- [ ] Document/implement that `Esc`-triggered session close is **not**
+      without code changes; `CheckTool("tmux")` error message includes
-      available in the native Windows fallback — the panes must be closed
+      Windows-specific install hint.
-      manually there.
+- [x] `install.ps1` — PowerShell install script for Windows.
+- [x] Updated README and SPEC with Windows + psmux setup instructions.
 
 ## Phase 4 — Nice-to-haves (open, not committed)
 

README.md

@@ -68,12 +68,16 @@ See [SPEC.md](SPEC.md) for the full requirements and design rationale, and
   Configuration below - they must already exist in your kubeconfig, e.g.
   added via `aws eks update-kubeconfig`).
 - `k9s` (used for the two status panes).
-- `tmux` (used for the 3-pane layout). On Windows, this means running
+- `tmux` (used for the 3-pane layout). On **Linux/macOS**, install
-  kctl-tui inside **WSL** — `tmux` has no native Windows port. Native
+  `tmux` via your package manager. On **Windows**, install
-  Windows Terminal has its own split-pane feature, but it cannot be
+  [psmux](https://github.com/marlocarlo/psmux) — a native,
-  scripted from inside a pane the way `tmux` can, so the automated 3-pane
+  tmux-compatible terminal multiplexer:
-  layout and the `Esc` session handling described above are only fully
+  ```powershell
-  supported under Linux/WSL. See SPEC.md section 3.6 for details.
+  scoop install psmux
+  # or
+  cargo install psmux
+  ```
+  psmux provides a `tmux` command, so kctl-tui works without changes.
 - `aws` CLI, configured with credentials, only needed for the secrets
   workflow.
 
@@ -85,6 +89,15 @@ See [SPEC.md](SPEC.md) for the full requirements and design rationale, and
 curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/skoelle/kctl-tui/main/install.sh | bash
 ```
 
+### Quick install (Windows)
+
+```powershell
+irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/skoelle/kctl-tui/main/install.ps1 | iex
+```
+
+This downloads the latest release binary for your architecture from
+GitHub Releases and installs it to your PATH.
+
 This downloads the latest release binary for your OS/architecture from
 GitHub Releases and installs it to `/usr/local/bin/kctl-tui`.
 
@@ -167,11 +180,19 @@ aws_sso_login_command: "aws sso login"
 that way — it typically contains your organization's internal account ID,
 context naming, and label names.
 
-## WSL setup notes
+## Windows notes
 
-If `kubectx`/`kubens` or `kctl-tui` report a missing kubeconfig inside WSL,
+On native Windows (without WSL), install [psmux](https://github.com/marlocarlo/psmux)
-your kubeconfig most likely only exists on the Windows side. Symlink it
+for the 3-pane layout. psmux is a native Windows terminal multiplexer
-into WSL:
+that is tmux-compatible — kctl-tui works without code changes:
+
+```powershell
+scoop install psmux
+# or
+cargo install psmux
+```
+
+If you prefer WSL, symlink your kubeconfig into WSL:
 
 ```bash
 mkdir -p ~/.kube
@@ -182,8 +203,10 @@ ln -s /mnt/c/Users/<your-windows-username>/.kube/config ~/.kube/config
 
 ```bash
 kctl-tui                    # start the TUI (full navigation mode)
+kctl-tui --help             # show all commands and flags
 kctl-tui --version          # print version
 kctl-tui --verbose          # enable debug logging to stderr
+kctl-tui doctor             # check if all tools, config and connections are OK
 kctl-tui config check       # validate ~/.kctl-tui/config.yaml
 kctl-tui panel --context=... --ns=... --team=...   # internal (called by tmux)
 ```
@@ -204,4 +227,4 @@ and untested, since it has no meaningful behavior without a live cluster.
 
 ## License
 
-[MIT](LICENSE)
+Licensed under the [MIT License](LICENSE) - Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)

SPEC.md

@@ -89,6 +89,8 @@ not cover: **redeploy** and **secrets diff**.
 Example startup command (generic placeholders):
 
 ```
+# Kill stale session first (separate command — tmux aborts on kill-session error).
+tmux kill-session -t kctl
 tmux new-session -d -s kctl \
   "kctl-tui panel --context=$CTX_A --ns=$NS --team=$TEAM" \; \
   set-option -t kctl remain-on-exit on \; \
@@ -167,18 +169,15 @@ The `context_template` replaces `{region}`, `{account_id}`, `{env}`, and
 selected environment/context. The resolved value must match an existing
 context in your kubeconfig (e.g. added via `aws eks update-kubeconfig`).
 
-**Platform limitation on Windows without WSL:** `kill-session` is
+**Windows support:** On native Windows, install
-tmux-specific. Windows Terminal (`wt.exe`) offers no equivalent scripting
+[psmux](https://github.com/marlocarlo/psmux) — a native, tmux-compatible
-to end the session from inside a pane. On plain Windows (without WSL),
+terminal multiplexer. psmux provides a `tmux` command, so kctl-tui works
-only a simplified flow is possible: k9s panes are closed manually (`q`,
+without code changes (including `Esc`-triggered session termination).
-then `Ctrl+Shift+W`); automatic session termination is unavailable there.
+Alternatively, run kctl-tui inside WSL with standard `tmux`.
-This limitation is the main reason the primary target system is set to
-Linux/WSL.
 
 ## 4. Non-functional requirements
 
-- **Primary platform Linux/WSL**, secondary native Windows with reduced
+- **Primary platform Linux/WSL**, secondary native Windows (via psmux).
-  functionality.
 - **Single-binary distribution** without external runtime dependency (Go
   provides this natively).
 - **External dependencies**: `kubectl` mandatory; `tmux`, `k9s`, `aws-cli`

cmd/kctl-tui/full.go

@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
+
 package main
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"runtime"
 	"sort"
 
 	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
@@ -265,7 +270,10 @@ func (m *fullModel) loadNamespacesFor(teamValue string) tea.Cmd {
 // configured envs, resolved via the context template, so both are
 // visible side by side.
 func (m *fullModel) startTmuxSession() tea.Cmd {
-	selfPath := "kctl-tui"
+	selfPath, err := os.Executable()
+	if err != nil {
+		selfPath = "kctl-tui" // fallback to PATH lookup
+	}
 	panelCmd := fmt.Sprintf("%s panel --context=%s --ns=%s --team=%s",
 		selfPath, m.selectedContext, m.selectedNamespace, m.selectedTeam)
 
@@ -273,6 +281,31 @@ func (m *fullModel) startTmuxSession() tea.Cmd {
 	ctxA := m.cfg.ResolveContext(envA, m.selectedContext)
 	k9sCmdA := fmt.Sprintf("k9s --context %s -n %s", ctxA, m.selectedNamespace)
 
+	// Kill stale session first (ignore error if none exists).
+	killErr := exec.Command("tmux", "kill-session", "-t", "kctl").Run()
+	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "[debug] selfPath=%s\n", selfPath)
+	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "[debug] panelCmd=%s\n", panelCmd)
+	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "[debug] kill-session err=%v\n", killErr)
+
+	var c *exec.Cmd
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		// On Windows, psmux doesn't handle ; separators when args are
+		// passed individually via exec.Command. Build the full command
+		// string and run it through cmd.exe.
+		tmuxScript := fmt.Sprintf(
+			"tmux new-session -d -s kctl %q ; set-option -t kctl remain-on-exit on ; split-window -v -t kctl:0.0 %q",
+			panelCmd, k9sCmdA,
+		)
+		if len(m.cfg.Envs) > 1 {
+			envB := m.cfg.Envs[1]
+			ctxB := m.cfg.ResolveContext(envB, m.selectedContext)
+			k9sCmdB := fmt.Sprintf("k9s --context %s -n %s", ctxB, m.selectedNamespace)
+			tmuxScript += fmt.Sprintf(" ; split-window -v -t kctl:0.1 %q", k9sCmdB)
+		}
+		tmuxScript += " ; select-layout -t kctl even-vertical ; select-pane -t kctl:0.0 ; attach -t kctl"
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "[debug] windows cmd: %s\n", tmuxScript)
+		c = exec.Command("cmd.exe", "/c", tmuxScript)
+	} else {
 		args := []string{
 			"new-session", "-d", "-s", "kctl",
 			panelCmd, ";",
@@ -292,8 +325,9 @@ func (m *fullModel) startTmuxSession() tea.Cmd {
 			"select-pane", "-t", "kctl:0.0", ";",
 			"attach", "-t", "kctl",
 		)
-
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "[debug] unix args: %v\n", args)
-	c := exec.Command("tmux", args...)
+		c = exec.Command("tmux", args...)
+	}
 
 	return tea.ExecProcess(c, func(err error) tea.Msg {
 		return tmuxDoneMsg{err: err}

cmd/kctl-tui/helpers.go

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
+
 package main
 
 import "github.com/skoelle/kctl-tui/internal/kctl"

cmd/kctl-tui/list_item.go

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
+
 package main
 
 // simpleItem is a minimal implementation of list.Item used for all

cmd/kctl-tui/main.go

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
+
 package main
 
 import (
@@ -18,6 +21,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	// Extract global flags before delegating to sub-commands.
 	verbose := false
+	showHelp := false
 	filtered := make([]string, 0, len(args))
 	for _, a := range args {
 		switch a {
@@ -26,6 +30,8 @@ func main() {
 		case "--version", "-v":
 			fmt.Printf("kctl-tui %s\n", version)
 			return
+		case "--help", "-h":
+			showHelp = true
 		default:
 			filtered = append(filtered, a)
 		}
@@ -34,6 +40,14 @@ func main() {
 		kubeexec.SetVerbose(true, os.Stderr)
 	}
 
+	if showHelp {
+		printUsage()
+		return
+	}
+	if len(filtered) == 0 {
+		// No subcommand — start the full TUI.
+	}
+
 	if len(filtered) > 0 {
 		switch filtered[0] {
 		case "panel":
@@ -48,6 +62,16 @@ func main() {
 				os.Exit(1)
 			}
 			return
+		case "doctor":
+			if err := runDoctor(); err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "kctl-tui doctor error:", err)
+				os.Exit(1)
+			}
+			return
+		default:
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "unknown command: %s\n\n", filtered[0])
+			printUsage()
+			os.Exit(1)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -59,6 +83,28 @@ func main() {
 	}
 }
 
+func printUsage() {
+	fmt.Print(`kctl-tui — Kubernetes entry-point TUI
+
+Usage:
+  kctl-tui [flags]             start the TUI (full navigation mode)
+  kctl-tui doctor              check tools, config and connections
+  kctl-tui config check        validate ~/.kctl-tui/config.yaml
+  kctl-tui panel [options]     control pane (called internally by tmux)
+
+Flags:
+  --verbose    log all kubectl/aws commands to stderr
+  --version    print version
+  --help       show this help
+
+Examples:
+  kctl-tui                          # start the TUI
+  kctl-tui doctor                   # verify everything is installed
+  kctl-tui --verbose 2>debug.log    # log commands to a file
+  kctl-tui config check             # validate config
+`)
+}
+
 func runConfig(args []string) error {
 	if len(args) == 0 || args[0] != "check" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("usage: kctl-tui config check")
@@ -110,3 +156,112 @@ func runConfig(args []string) error {
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+func runDoctor() error {
+	pass := "ok"
+	fail := "FAIL"
+	warn := "WARN"
+	status := pass
+	errs := 0
+
+	check := func(label string, err error) {
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Printf("  [%s] %s: %v\n", fail, label, err)
+			status = fail
+			errs++
+		} else {
+			fmt.Printf("  [%s] %s\n", pass, label)
+		}
+	}
+
+	warnCheck := func(label string, err error) {
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Printf("  [%s] %s: %v\n", warn, label, err)
+		} else {
+			fmt.Printf("  [%s] %s\n", pass, label)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// --- Tools ---
+	fmt.Println("\nTools:")
+	check("kubectl", kubeexec.CheckTool("kubectl"))
+	check("tmux/psmux", kubeexec.CheckTool("tmux"))
+	check("k9s", kubeexec.CheckTool("k9s"))
+	warnCheck("aws CLI (optional)", kubeexec.CheckTool("aws"))
+
+	// --- Config ---
+	fmt.Println("\nConfig:")
+	cfgPath, err := config.DefaultPath()
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("  [%s] config path: %v\n", fail, err)
+		errs++
+		status = fail
+	} else {
+		cfg, err := config.Load(cfgPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Printf("  [%s] load config: %v\n", fail, err)
+			errs++
+			status = fail
+		} else {
+			check("config file exists", nil)
+			if len(cfg.Contexts) == 0 {
+				fmt.Printf("  [%s] contexts configured\n", fail)
+				errs++
+				status = fail
+			} else {
+				fmt.Printf("  [%s] contexts configured (%d)\n", pass, len(cfg.Contexts))
+			}
+			if len(cfg.Envs) == 0 {
+				fmt.Printf("  [%s] envs configured\n", fail)
+				errs++
+				status = fail
+			} else {
+				fmt.Printf("  [%s] envs configured (%d)\n", pass, len(cfg.Envs))
+			}
+			if cfg.ContextTemplate != "" {
+				ctx := cfg.ResolveContext(cfg.Envs[0], cfg.Contexts[0])
+				fmt.Printf("  [%s] context_template resolves to: %s\n", pass, ctx)
+			} else {
+				fmt.Printf("  [%s] context_template is empty\n", fail)
+				errs++
+				status = fail
+			}
+			if cfg.SecretNameTemplate != "" && len(cfg.Envs) > 0 {
+				secret := cfg.ResolveSecretName("example-ns", cfg.Envs[0])
+				fmt.Printf("  [%s] secret_name_template resolves to: %s\n", pass, secret)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// --- Connections ---
+	fmt.Println("\nConnections:")
+	if kubeexec.CheckTool("kubectl") == nil {
+		err := kubeexec.CheckAWSAuth()
+		if err == nil {
+			fmt.Printf("  [%s] kubectl cluster reachable\n", pass)
+		} else {
+			// Not fatal — cluster might be unreachable from this machine
+			fmt.Printf("  [%s] kubectl cluster: %v\n", warn, err)
+		}
+	}
+	if kubeexec.CheckTool("aws") == nil {
+		err := kubeexec.CheckAWSAuth()
+		if err == nil {
+			fmt.Printf("  [%s] AWS credentials valid\n", pass)
+		} else {
+			fmt.Printf("  [%s] AWS credentials: %v\n", warn, err)
+		}
+	} else {
+		fmt.Printf("  [%s] AWS credentials (aws CLI not installed)\n", warn)
+	}
+
+	// --- Summary ---
+	fmt.Println()
+	if status == pass {
+		fmt.Println("All checks passed. kctl-tui is ready to use.")
+	} else {
+		fmt.Printf("%d error(s) found. Fix the issues above and re-run: kctl-tui doctor\n", errs)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	return nil
+}

cmd/kctl-tui/panel.go

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
+
 package main
 
 import (

install.ps1

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+# Install script for kctl-tui on Windows.
+# Downloads the latest GitHub release binary matching the current architecture
+# and installs it to your PATH.
+#
+# Usage (PowerShell):
+#   irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/skoelle/kctl-tui/main/install.ps1 | iex
+#
+# Or save and run locally:
+#   .\install.ps1
+#
+# Requires: PowerShell 5.1+, internet access.
+
+$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
+
+$Repo = "skoelle/kctl-tui"
+$BinName = "kctl-tui"
+
+# --- Detect architecture ---
+$arch = $env:PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE
+switch ($arch) {
+    "AMD64"   { $goarch = "amd64" }
+    "ARM64"   { $goarch = "arm64" }
+    default {
+        Write-Error "Unsupported architecture: $arch"
+        exit 1
+    }
+}
+
+# --- Determine install directory ---
+$installDir = "$env:USERPROFILE\bin"
+if (-not (Test-Path $installDir)) {
+    New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $installDir | Out-Null
+}
+
+# Add to PATH if not already there
+$currentPath = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "User")
+if ($currentPath -notlike "*$installDir*") {
+    [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "$currentPath;$installDir", "User")
+    $env:Path = "$env:Path;$installDir"
+    Write-Host "Added $installDir to your PATH."
+}
+
+# --- Query GitHub API for latest release ---
+Write-Host "Detecting latest release for $Repo ..."
+try {
+    $release = Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "https://api.github.com/repos/$Repo/releases/latest" -UseBasicParsing
+} catch {
+    Write-Error "Failed to reach the GitHub API (network error). Check your internet connection and try again."
+    exit 1
+}
+
+$tag = $release.tag_name
+if (-not $tag) {
+    Write-Error "Could not find a published release for $Repo. No release has been tagged yet."
+    exit 1
+}
+
+Write-Host "Latest release: $tag"
+
+# --- Download binary ---
+$asset = "kctl-tui-windows-${goarch}.exe"
+$url = "https://github.com/$Repo/releases/download/$tag/$asset"
+$outFile = "$installDir\$BinName.exe"
+
+Write-Host "Downloading $asset ($tag) ..."
+try {
+    Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $url -OutFile $outFile -UseBasicParsing
+} catch {
+    Write-Error "Download failed: $_"
+    exit 1
+}
+
+Write-Host "Installed $BinName to $outFile"
+Write-Host "Done. Run '$BinName' to get started."

install.sh

@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+# Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
 # Install script for kctl-tui.
 # Downloads the latest GitHub release binary matching the current OS/arch
 # and installs it to /usr/local/bin (or $INSTALL_DIR if set).

internal/config/config.go

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
+
 // Package config loads the user-specific, non-versioned kctl-tui
 // configuration (contexts, envs, templates) from a YAML file.
 package config

internal/config/config_test.go

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
+
 package config
 
 import (

internal/kctl/diff.go

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
+
 package kctl
 
 import "sort"

internal/kctl/diff_test.go

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
+
 package kctl
 
 import "testing"

internal/kctl/labels.go

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
+
 package kctl
 
 import "sort"

internal/kctl/labels_test.go

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
+
 package kctl
 
 import (

internal/kctl/template.go

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
+
 package kctl
 
 import "strings"

internal/kctl/template_test.go

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
+
 package kctl
 
 import "testing"

internal/kubeexec/kubeexec.go

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
+
 // Package kubeexec wraps kubectl/aws-cli invocations used by kctl-tui.
 // All functions here have side effects (they run external processes) and
 // are therefore not covered by unit tests; the pure logic they depend on
@@ -182,8 +185,11 @@ func RunAWSLogin(loginCommand string) *exec.Cmd {
 // Returns nil if found, or a descriptive error if not.
 func CheckTool(name string) error {
 	_, err := exec.LookPath(name)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err == nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%q not found in PATH — please install it first", name)
-	}
 		return nil
+	}
+	if name == "tmux" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%q not found in PATH — install tmux (Linux/macOS) or psmux (Windows: scoop install psmux or cargo install psmux)", name)
+	}
+	return fmt.Errorf("%q not found in PATH — please install it first", name)
 }

internal/kubeexec/log.go

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Stefan Koelle (https://stefankoelle.de)
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in project root for details.
+
 package kubeexec
 
 import (