glances

Run in terminal

$ glances

$ glances [[-w|--webserver]]

$ glances [[-s|--server]]

$ glances [[-c|--client]] [hostname]

$ glances [[-s|--server]] --password

$ <q>

$ glances [[-h|--help]]

glances [options]

-h, --help
    Show help message and exit

-V, --version
    Show version and exit

-v, --verbose
    Verbose mode

-C CORE, --config CORE
    Configuration file path

-f FILE, --logfile FILE
    Log to a file

-w, --web
    Launch web server on default port (61208)

-W, --web-browser
    Launch browser with web interface

-s, --server
    Run as server (default port 61209)

-c HOST, --client HOST
    Connect to a Glances server

-p PORT, --port PORT
    Server port

-B BIND, --bind BIND
    Bind address

-t SEC, --time SEC
    Refresh interval in seconds

-q, --quit
    Quit after fixed time (enable with -t)

--disable-module MODULE
    Disable a module (e.g., docker)

--enable-module MODULE
    Enable a module

--export {influxdb,prometheus,...}
    Export metrics to backend

-n, --disable-check-update
    Disable PyPI update check

--new-colors
    Use new color scheme

--tree
    Tree view of processes

--debug
    Debug mode

Glances is a free, open-source, cross-platform command-line tool written in Python that provides a curses-based interface for real-time system monitoring. It displays key metrics including CPU, memory, load, disk I/O, network activity, file systems, sensors, processes, and Docker containers in a single, compact, color-coded screen.

Unlike traditional tools like top or htop, Glances offers more information at a glance, with ITARGZ layout (Information Top Adapted to Resources Glances), smart automatic sizing, and filtering. It supports standalone mode, client-server mode over SSH/XML-RPC, and web server mode for browser access. Data can be exported to CSV, InfluxDB, Prometheus, Grafana, StatsD, and more.

Key features include process sorting, resource limits with alerts (green/orange/red colors), per-core CPU stats, and extensibility via plugins. It's lightweight, portable (no installation needed if Python is present), and works on Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, and Windows. Ideal for servers, desktops, and troubleshooting.

Requires Python 3. Glances auto-detects optional dependencies (e.g., psutil for full features); missing ones limit modules like GPU or Docker stats.
High refresh rates may increase CPU usage. Web/server modes expose metrics; secure with firewall.

Uses ~/.config/glances/glances.conf for customization: colors, hiding modules, process filters, and thresholds.

Interactive: 1 toggle CPU per-core; m sort by MEM; f global filters; a sort processes; q quit; ? help.

Created by Nicolas Hennion (aka 'nicolargo') in 2009 as a top/htop alternative. Rewritten in Python around 2012 for portability. Version 3.x (2019+) added web export, Prometheus support, and modules system. Actively maintained on GitHub with 20k+ stars.

top(1), htop(1), nmon(1), atop(1), iotop(1), btop(1)