This is an error when using the combination Spacemacs + Zsh + Tmux.

Error Message

Environment:

• OS: Ubuntu 18.04
• Emacs: 25.2.2, Spacemacs 0.200.13
• Shell: Zsh + Tmux
• Tmux related setting in .zshrc:

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# If not running interactively, do not do anything
[[ $- != *i* ]] && return
[[ -z "$TMUX" ]] && exec tmux

Error (use-package): exec-path-from-shell/:init: Non-zero exit code from shell zsh invoked with args (“-l” “-i” “-c” “/usr/bin/printf ‘__RESULT\\000%s\\000%s\\000__RESULT’ \”({PATH-87922f8a678e8c83b4bbdc20816cbc3c}" "){MANPATH-87922f8a678e8c83b4bbdc20816cbc3c}\””). Output was: “open terminal failed: not a terminal

Note: the hex string varies each time.

Possible Reasons

• PATH edited
• Incompatible packages
• .zshrc configuration problem
• Tmux is not compatible with Spacemacs packages. -> I believe this is the actual reason in my case.

Solution

• Reddit/r/spacemacs thread
• Spacemacs FAQ
• Github spacemacs/issues/4755

Attempt 1: Change the Shell to Bash

In Spacemacs dotfile (open with SPC f e d), add the following lines to the dotspacemacs/user-init.

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(defun dotspacemacs/user-init ()
  (setq explicit-shell-file-name "/bin/bash")
  (setq shell-file-name "bash")
)

This solution works.

However, the opened shell with M-x shell is bash, not zsh. It is OK for me anyway. If you try to run zsh in the shell in Spacemacs, it outputs the following error:

open terminal failed: terminal does not support clear

Attempt 2: Disable Shell Checking on Startup

Add the following line to the dotspacemacs/user-init

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(defun dotspacemacs/user-init ()
  (setq exec-path-from-shell-check-startup-files nil)
)

This attempt does not work (at least for me).

Attempt 3: Add exec-path-from-shell to the dotspacemacs-excluded-packages List

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;; A list of packages that will not be installed and loaded.
dotspacemacs-excluded-packages '(exec-path-from-shell)

This attempt works.

However, you need to set the variable exec-path by yourself, otherwise, when you run M-x shell, the new buffer will output the following error and fail to start the shell.

open terminal failed: terminal does not support clear

Process shell exited abnormally with code 1

In Summary

The Attempt 1 is the best solution so far. However, if one would like to run zsh in Spacemacs, he/she might want to prevent Tmux from starting in Emacs.

Another option is to run eshell in Spacemacs. Good luck!