# gtop — System Monitoring Dashboard for the Terminal

> A lightweight terminal-based system monitor built with Node.js. Displays CPU, memory, disk, network, and process information in a visually rich dashboard layout.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# gtop — System Monitoring Dashboard for the Terminal

## Quick Use
```bash
# Install globally via npm
npm install -g gtop

# Run
gtop
```

## Introduction
gtop is a terminal system monitoring tool that renders CPU, memory, disk, network, and process data in a colorful dashboard. It provides a quick visual overview of system health without leaving the terminal.

## What gtop Does
- Displays real-time CPU usage per core with color-coded bar charts
- Shows memory and swap usage with visual progress indicators
- Lists running processes sorted by CPU or memory consumption
- Monitors network throughput for upload and download
- Renders disk usage across mounted volumes

## Architecture Overview
gtop is built on Node.js using the blessed and blessed-contrib libraries for terminal rendering. It polls system metrics through OS-level APIs exposed by Node.js and third-party modules. The dashboard layout is a fixed grid of widgets that update on a configurable refresh interval.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Install globally with `npm install -g gtop` (requires Node.js)
- Also available via Snap: `snap install gtop`
- No configuration file needed; runs with sensible defaults
- Quit with `q` or `Ctrl+C`
- Supports terminal resizing for responsive layout adjustments

## Key Features
- Visually rich dashboard with charts, sparklines, and progress bars
- Per-core CPU utilization with color gradients
- Process table with sortable columns
- Minimal resource footprint despite the rich display
- Cross-platform support for Linux, macOS, and Windows

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **htop** — interactive process viewer; gtop adds network and disk widgets in a dashboard layout
- **btop** — feature-rich C++ monitor; gtop is simpler to install via npm with no compilation
- **Glances** — Python-based with extensive plugins; gtop is lighter and more visual
- **bottom** — Rust-based TUI monitor; gtop trades configurability for zero-config simplicity
- **top** — basic built-in utility; gtop adds color, charts, and a modern layout

## FAQ
**Q: Does gtop require root access?**
A: No. It reads system metrics available to the current user.

**Q: Can I customize the refresh interval?**
A: The default interval is built in. For adjustable intervals, check the source or use alternatives like btop.

**Q: Does it work over SSH?**
A: Yes. It runs in any terminal that supports 256 colors and Unicode.

**Q: How much memory does gtop use?**
A: Typically under 50 MB, as it is a lightweight Node.js application.

## Sources
- https://github.com/aksakalli/gtop


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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-c4d51291
Author: Script Depot