Topping top: htop

Top is a very handy and common application. But there is always room for improvement, even in common and simple programs. In this case, meet htop. It performs a similar function to top, viz. showing you what is using your system's CPU, memory, or other resources. However, htop presents this information is a much friendlier graphical way.

On Ubuntu, install is a snap. Make sure you have the universe repos enabled, and then run sudo apt-get install htop.

And no more obscure commands to remember for configuring layout and appearance. There is a handy list of commands at the bottom of the display. In addition, that display is in a wide range of handy colors (also configurable of course). The whole presentation is easier to read, and a lot easier to customize.

As mentioned, there are a lot of options for htop. Once you configure things and exit htop, your changes are saved to a .htoprc in your home directory. To see the basic options I have set, you can check out my .htoprc.

I like to have top (and now htop) running in the top left of my dual monitor setup. Using fluxbox, this is rather easy. See my .fluxbox startup and apps files.