# btop
> A feature-rich resource monitor with a beautiful TUI

## Summary
A feature-rich system resource monitor with a beautiful TUI. Shows CPU, memory, disk, network, and process information with customizable themes and mouse support.

## Capabilities
- Real-time CPU, memory, disk, and network monitoring
- Beautiful graphs and visualizations
- Process management (kill, sort, filter)
- Mouse support and customizable themes

## When to Use
- Monitoring system resources in real time
- Need a visually rich alternative to top/htop
- Want mouse-interactive process management

## When NOT to Use
- Headless servers where a simpler tool like top suffices

## Key Flags
- `--utf-force`: Force UTF-8 mode even if not detected by the terminal
- `-t`: Set the color theme to use
- `--update / -u`: Set the update frequency in milliseconds

## Usage Patterns
### Launch system monitor
```
btop
```
Opens the full-screen TUI system monitor

## Installation
- **homebrew**: `brew install btop`
- **apt**: `sudo apt install btop`
- **pacman**: `sudo pacman -S btop`

## Related Tools
- [htop](/tools/htop) (alternative): htop is a simpler, more established process viewer

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Source: https://littlescripts.sh/tools/btop
