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top

top is a standard unix CLI tool to show running processes. This is one of those tools that behaves differently on BSD (macOS) and Linux, and may behave different on other unixes.

GNU top Usage

  • Change the number of displayed processes with n
  • Display all CPUs with 1
  • Kill a process with k
  • Renice a process with r
  • Save current display as default in ~/.toprc with W
  • Show or hide idle processes with i
  • Sort output with O

BSD top Usage

Start top sorted by cpu

top -u

See also