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btop++ is an interactive terminal resource monitor for viewing CPU, memory, disk, network, and process activity. It combines live graphs with a process list you can filter, sort, inspect in a tree view, and use to signal a selected process. GPU readings are possible, but depend on the build, operating system, GPU vendor, and required drivers or libraries.
What btop++ shows and lets you do
The project describes btop as a “Resource monitor that shows usage and stats for processor, memory, disks, network and processes.” It is written in C++ and continues the earlier bashtop and bpytop projects. Its terminal interface presents system summaries alongside a process list, so you can see overall activity and investigate individual processes without switching to a graphical monitoring app.
Process-list tools include filtering and sorting, a tree view, details for the selected process, and the ability to send a signal to that process. Sending signals can affect or stop software, so select the intended process and signal carefully. See the official btop README for the project’s documented features and setup options.
How to install btop++
For ordinary use, start with the installation section of the official README, then use a maintained package source for your operating system when one is available. Repository versions may lag behind upstream releases, so package freshness depends on the distribution or package manager. The project documents installation or build paths for Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, NetBSD, and OpenBSD, as well as release archives and source compilation.
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- Linux and BSD: Check your distribution’s or system’s package repositories first. The upstream README also lists packages for multiple distributions and BSD systems.
- macOS: Homebrew is one documented route; the README also provides release and source-build options.
- Release archive: Use the official project’s release downloads if you need a provided binary rather than a package-manager build. The README describes its Linux prebuilt binaries as musl-static and compatible with kernel 2.6.39 and newer; that description is not a guarantee for every environment.
- Build from source: Use the instructions for the exact release or source checkout you intend to build. The rolling README lists GCC 14 or Clang 19 as minimum compiler generations for Linux and macOS builds; build requirements can change over time.
A native package is usually the simplest choice for routine installation. If a package is missing or too old for a feature you need, compare the release archive and source-build options against your operating system and hardware before choosing.
Does btop++ show GPU usage?
It can, but GPU monitoring is not guaranteed just because btop++ is installed. The binary must include GPU support, and the vendor-specific prerequisites must be met. The project documentation describes support for Linux and Apple Silicon GPUs on macOS; it does not establish universal GPU monitoring on every operating system or graphics device.
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- NVIDIA: The README calls for the official driver and the nvidia-ml library.
- AMD on Linux: GPU readings use ROCm SMI; availability and packaging of the required components vary.
- Intel: The README says monitoring requires SYSFS access. Its dated v1.4.0 announcement, posted 22 September 2024, added Intel GPU support and specified utilization, power usage, and clock speed as the available metrics at that time. That release note should not be treated as a promise that every current build or Intel device exposes the same readings.
- Apple Silicon macOS: The README describes GPU monitoring for Apple Silicon GPUs, not as a general macOS capability for every GPU.
If GPU readings are absent, check whether your binary includes GPU support and whether the relevant driver, library, or access requirement is satisfied. A missing GPU panel does not by itself mean the CPU, memory, disk, and network monitoring is unavailable.
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Graph quality depends partly on the terminal and its font, not only on btop++. Upstream recommends a UTF-8 locale and fonts with glyphs from Braille Patterns (U+2800–U+28FF), Geometric Shapes (U+25A0–U+25FF), and Box Drawing and Block Elements (U+2500–U+259F). Without suitable glyph coverage or rendering, graphs can appear misaligned, clipped, or uneven.
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- Check the terminal’s character encoding. Use a UTF-8 locale and confirm the terminal is actually using it.
- Check font coverage and fallback. Choose a terminal font, or configure a fallback font, that includes the glyph ranges btop uses. Test whether the same characters render correctly elsewhere in the terminal.
- Try a graph mode that avoids Braille glyphs. Upstream documents TTY mode and block/TTY graph types as alternatives when Braille Patterns are unavailable.
- Consider the display environment. If you are running in a virtual console or another limited terminal, try the documented TTY or lower-color options rather than assuming the application itself is defective.
The README documents TTY and lower-color options for constrained display environments. Consult its rendering guidance for the exact setting names and available choices, since they may vary by version.
When elevated access is relevant
Do not run btop++ as root or grant it elevated privileges simply to improve convenience. The README describes setcap or setuid configuration for specific needs, including sending signals, access to some /proc information, and certain Intel GPU or CPU wattage readings. These options grant additional authority to the program and should be considered only when a particular feature requires it. Follow the upstream instructions for the exact operating system and understand the access being granted before applying them.
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How to evaluate btop++ against another monitor
There is no project benchmark in the cited README material that supports claims about comparative speed or resource consumption. A practical comparison should instead focus on the capabilities and setup that matter in your environment:
Quick Recap
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- Does it support your operating system and architecture?
- Are the telemetry you need—especially GPU metrics—available for your hardware and install method?
- Does the interface render properly in your terminal, locale, and font?
- Can you install it from a package source you maintain, or will you need a release archive or source build?
- Do you need process filtering, sorting, tree view, selected-process details, mouse controls, or process signaling?
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