bpytop – Awesome Linux, macOS and FreeBSD resource monitor

The bashtop is an impressive Linux resource monitor that shows usage and stats for processor, memory, disks, and network. However, it suffers from bash itself, and cross-platform support is a nightmare. Now we have the Python port of bashtop. We can use a resource monitor that shows usage and stats for CPU, RAM, SSD (hard disk), network, and processes information in a lovely format.

bpytop – Awesome Linux, macOS and FreeBSD resource monitor

Not just the bpytop tool is impressive, but it offers tons of features. Here is a list of some of the features I found useful before we install awesome bpytop command on Linux, macOS and FreeBSD Unix:

1. Extremely easy to use with gaming style menu system.
2. Beautiful user interface.
3. Full mouse support in its glory. We can scroll and click. The days are gone when you need to remember tons of keyboard shortcuts. Of course, we can use the arrow and other keys to control responsive UI.
4. Various function keys to obtain in-depth statistics for running Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD process.
5. Sorting and filtering processes supported with filters.
6. We can also send various Unix signals to the selected process.
7. The bpytop will do an auto-updating graph for your server’s network usage.
8. Get a piece of quick information about current read and write speeds for your systems disk usage.

A note about software dependencies: It would be best to have Python3 (v3.6 or later) and the psutil module (v5.7.0 or later). Make sure you are using OpenSSH for a remote server running in clouds.

Installing bpytop

The best way to install the bpytop is by typing the following command to install or upgrade to the latest version:
$ pip3 install bpytop --upgrade

Arch Linux install bytop

Run the pacman command:
$ sudo pacman -Syu
$ sudo pacman -S bpytop

Related: How to run multiple commands with sudo on your macOS, Linux and Unix

Debian 11

We use the apt command:
$ sudo sh -c 'apt update && apt -y upgrade && apt -y install bpytop'

RHEL 8 or CentOS 8 or Fedora users

For RHEL 8 enable EPEL (see how to enable and use EPEL on CentOS 8) and then type the dnf command:
$ sudo sh -c 'dnf update && dnf install bpytop'

FreeBSD install bpytop

Run the pkg command to install bpytop:
$ sudo pkg install bpytop

Ubuntu snap installation

Execute the following snap command:
$ sudo snap install bpytop
However, you need to grant additional permissions too:
sudo snap connect bpytop:mount-observe
sudo snap connect bpytop:network-control
sudo snap connect bpytop:hardware-observe
sudo snap connect bpytop:system-observe
sudo snap connect bpytop:process-control
sudo snap connect bpytop:physical-memory-observe

Install bpytop on macOS using homebrew

Install install Homebrew on macOS if not already installed and then type the following commands:
brew install python3 git
python3 -m pip install psutil
brew install hacker1024/hacker1024/coretemp
brew install osx-cpu-temp
brew install bpytop

macOS users please use iTerm2.

How to install Linux, OSX and FreeBSD manually

Clone the repo and run:
git clone https://github.com/aristocratos/bpytop.git
cd bpytop
sudo make install
We can uninstall it if not needed as follows:
$ sudo make uninstall

How do I use bpytop?

All we have to do is type:
$ bpytop
And boom:

That’s pretty great. Here is a quick video demo for you:

Want to start bpytop in minimal mode ?

Run the following to run in minimal mode without memory and networking info:
$ bpytop -p
# OR #
$ bpytop --proc
We can process information too:
$ bpytop -s
# OR #
$ bpytop --stat

Summing up

Today, try bpytop and let me know in the comment system if you found this fantastic utility useful on your Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD as resource monitor. It is much faster than bashtop and works pretty well as Python 3 is standard on many Unix boxes these days. Make sure you check out the project page too.

Category	List of Unix and Linux commands
Disk space analyzers	ncdu • pydf
File Management	cat
Firewall	Alpine Awall • CentOS 8 • OpenSUSE • RHEL 8 • Ubuntu 16.04 • Ubuntu 18.04 • Ubuntu 20.04
Network Utilities	NetHogs • dig • host • ip • nmap
OpenVPN	CentOS 7 • CentOS 8 • Debian 10 • Debian 8/9 • Ubuntu 18.04 • Ubuntu 20.04
Package Manager	apk • apt
Processes Management	bg • chroot • cron • disown • fg • jobs • killall • kill • pidof • pstree • pwdx • time
Searching	grep • whereis • which
User Information	groups • id • lastcomm • last • lid/libuser-lid • logname • members • users • whoami • who • w
WireGuard VPN	Alpine • CentOS 8 • Debian 10 • Firewall • Ubuntu 20.04