foremost

ps [options]
top [options]

ps -aux
    Display all processes, including those run by other users and without a controlling terminal (a = all users, u = user-oriented format, x = processes without controlling terminal)

top
    Displays a dynamic real-time view of running processes. It sorts by default by CPU usage.

top -o %MEM
    Sort processes by memory usage

top -u [username]
    Only show processes of a particular user

The foremost command, despite its name implying a primary tool, is not a standard Linux command for process management. It's likely a reference to tools like top, ps, or other utilities used to monitor and analyze running processes on a system. These commands display information about processes in a sorted manner, often by CPU usage, memory consumption, or other relevant metrics. They enable system administrators and users to quickly identify processes consuming the most resources or behaving abnormally. These commands are useful for performance tuning, troubleshooting, and identifying potential security issues. Typically, these utilities dynamically update the display to reflect the changing state of the system's processes, providing a real-time view of system activity. top, in particular, allows for interactive process management, including re-prioritizing processes (using the renice command) and terminating them if necessary. The command line allows for customization for field shown and sort order.

While top is a standard tool, htop provides a more user-friendly interface with color-coded output, easier navigation, and support for mouse interaction. Many other utilities and graphical process monitors are available depending on the desktop environment or specific needs.

ps(1), top(1), htop(1), kill(1), renice(1)