btm
Monitor system resources (performance)
TLDR
Show the default layout (CPU, memory, temperatures, disk, network, and processes)
Enable basic mode, removing charts and condensing data (similar to top)
Use big dots instead of small ones in charts
Show also battery charge and health status
Refresh every 250 milliseconds and show the last 30 seconds in the charts
SYNOPSIS
btm
DESCRIPTION
btm (Bashtop Monitor) is a resource monitoring tool for Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD. It displays real-time information about CPU usage, memory utilization, disk I/O, network activity, and process information in a visually appealing and customizable terminal interface.
Unlike traditional tools like `top`, `htop`, or `vmstat`, btm aims to provide a more user-friendly and modern experience. It uses a graphical interface built with Python, enabling users to quickly identify resource bottlenecks and manage system processes efficiently. The tool allows for filtering processes, sending signals, and quickly showing details about the currently running processes. The output is colored, interactive, and provides a concise overview of system performance.
btm is designed to be easy to install and configure, making it a convenient tool for both experienced system administrators and casual users who want to gain a better understanding of their system's resource usage.
CAVEATS
btm requires Python 3.6 or later and relies on several Python libraries. Performance may vary depending on system resources and the complexity of the monitoring setup. The visual appearance relies heavily on terminal support for ANSI escape codes; some older or less common terminals might not display the interface correctly.
INSTALLATION
btm can usually be installed using your system's package manager or pip. For example, on Debian/Ubuntu:
`sudo apt install python3-pip`
`sudo pip3 install bashtop`
On macOS, you can use Homebrew:
`brew install bashtop`
Refer to the official btm GitHub repository for the most up-to-date installation instructions.
CONFIGURATION
btm has a configuration file located in $HOME/.config/bashtop/btm.cfg that allows users to customize the appearance, refresh interval, and other settings. Options are described within the config file
KEYBINDINGS
btm uses several keybindings for navigation and control. Common keybindings include:
- 'Up/Down arrows': Select processes.
- 'Enter': Show details for a selected process.
- 'k': Kill a selected process.
- 'q': Quit btm.
HISTORY
btm evolved from Bashtop, a resource monitor written in bash. The switch to Python allowed for more advanced features, improved performance, and better cross-platform compatibility. The name changed to avoid conflicts with the older bash implementation and to signify the substantial changes and improvements incorporated into the Python version. The project has gained popularity for its visually appealing interface and ease of use.
