gtop

Show the system stats dashboard

$ gtop

$ <c>

$ <m>

gtop [options]

--help, -h
    Display a help message with available command-line options.

--version, -v
    Show the installed gtop version.

--theme
    Specify a color theme for the interface (e.g., "colorful", "dark", "light").

--no-color
    Disable all color output in the terminal.

Dot-notation options
    Many other configuration options are available via dot notation (e.g., --processes.sort cpu, --network.interval 2000) or through a global configuration file, allowing fine-grained control over various display aspects like refresh rates, process sorting, and visibility of specific metrics.

gtop is an open-source, cross-platform system monitoring tool for the command line, designed to provide a visually rich overview of system resources. Unlike traditional Linux utilities like top or htop, gtop is built using Node.js, making it highly portable across Linux, macOS, and Windows environments, provided Node.js and npm are installed.

It presents real-time data on CPU usage, memory consumption, disk I/O, network activity, and process information using interactive, colorful graphs and lists. Users can sort, filter, and drill down into process details. Its modern interface and emphasis on clear visualizations make it a popular choice for developers and system administrators seeking an alternative to native tools, offering a dashboard-like experience directly within the terminal.

gtop is not a standard, pre-installed Linux utility. It requires Node.js and the npm package manager to be installed on your system. As a Node.js application, its performance can be influenced by the Node.js runtime and may consume more system resources compared to native compiled tools like top or htop. Its reliance on Node.js also means it needs to be installed globally via npm before it can be run as a command.

To install gtop, you must have Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager) installed. Then, execute the following command:
npm install -g gtop
The -g flag ensures it's installed globally and accessible as a command from anywhere in your terminal.

Once gtop is running, you can interact with it using various key presses:
q or Ctrl+C: Quit the application.
k: Kill a selected process (requires PID input).
s: Sort processes (e.g., by CPU, memory).
f: Filter processes.
Arrow keys: Navigate lists.
These shortcuts provide dynamic control over the displayed information.

gtop was created by aksakalli and first released around 2016. It quickly gained traction within the developer community as a modern, interactive, and visually appealing alternative to traditional system monitoring tools. Its cross-platform nature, built on the ubiquitous Node.js runtime, made it accessible to users across different operating systems, contributing to its widespread adoption, especially among those already familiar with the Node.js ecosystem. Its development reflects a trend towards more graphical and user-friendly command-line interfaces.

top(1), htop(1), ps(1), free(1), df(1), netstat(8), ss(8)