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top

Classic Unix utility showing top CPU-using processes in real-time

System & Monitoring linuxmacos C GPL-2.0

Description

top is the classical Unix utility that provides a rolling display of top CPU-using processes. It shows real-time information about system resource usage including CPU, memory, and running processes.

AI Summary

Classic real-time process monitoring utility showing CPU and memory usage

Capabilities

  • + Display real-time CPU usage by process
  • + Show memory usage and system load
  • + Sort processes by various criteria
  • + Send signals to processes interactively

Use When

  • You need a quick overview of running processes and system load
  • You want to identify resource-hungry processes

Avoid When

  • x You want a more modern and feature-rich monitor (use btop or htop)

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View AGENTS.md for top