When you check a Linux machine’s resource use, it helps to see current activity alongside running programs. bpytop is a Python terminal resource monitor that displays system activity and processes together.
This guide shows how to check your distribution’s package or use an upstream installation method, then launch bpytop and filter or sort processes.
TL;DR: Install and start bpytop
Install bpytop from your distribution’s repository when available, then run the bpytop command in a terminal. Upstream also documents installation through PyPI or its source repository.
- Use your distro package manager first, because the available package and version depend on the release.
- For upstream installation, follow the project’s README and avoid installing Python packages into the system interpreter with sudo pip.
- Use btop if you want the upstream project’s C++ continuation rather than the older Python program.
What is bpytop?
bpytop is a Python terminal resource monitor. It displays processor use, memory, disks, network activity and running processes together, giving you one place to spot a resource that needs investigation.
It followed bashtop, then its developer continued the project in C++ as btop. The two programs have separate commands and packages.
| Panel | What to look at |
|---|---|
| CPU | Usage graphs and load information show processor activity. |
| Memory | RAM and swap meters show current use, not a guarantee about future allocation. |
| Disks and network | Capacity or read/write and traffic graphs help identify activity over time. |
| Processes | Rows show individual programs and their resource use. |
The panels show activity, not its cause. Inspect a process and its workload before deciding what to change.
How to install and use bpytop step by step
Choose one supported install route, then launch the program and inspect its process list. Package availability varies by Linux release.
Step 1: Check your distribution’s package
Search your distro’s current package index first. If it offers bpytop, install it through that package manager.
sudo apt install bpytop
sudo dnf install bpytop
sudo pacman -S bpytop
These commands are alternatives, not a sequence. Run only the one for a repository that offers the package on your release.
Step 2: Use an upstream installation method when needed
If your repository lacks bpytop, upstream maintains its PyPI package and documents a source install. PyPI installation requires Python 3.7 or later and psutil 5.7 or later.
python3 -m pip install bpytop --upgrade
The –upgrade option asks pip to update an existing package. If your distribution blocks changes to system Python, use its package or a virtual environment rather than overriding that protection.
Step 3: Launch bpytop and read the dashboard
Start the interface from a terminal with:
bpytop
This legacy dashboard shows CPU, memory, network and process areas. Its figures belong to the pictured machine, not yours. Read your own graph labels and process rows to connect a meter with a running program.
Step 4: Filter and sort processes
The process panel compares programs by resource columns. Upstream documents filtering and changing sort order. Select a row to inspect its details, then use the on-screen controls or help menu for the key assigned by your build.
Filtering narrows the list to matching entries. Sorting by CPU or memory brings current consumers into view. These readings change continuously, so they are not a saved report.
bpytop can send a signal to a selected process. A forceful kill may lose unsaved work, so confirm the process and try the least disruptive action first.
Step 5: Change display settings
Open Options to change the theme, visible panels or refresh interval. Upstream stores user settings in the .config/bpytop folder under your home directory. Keep enough screen space for process names and graph labels.
Common errors with bpytop
Package availability and terminal rendering are the two checks to make when installation or graphs do not look right.
- Package not found: availability differs by release. Check the official package index or use an upstream method.
- Graphs look wrong: upstream requires UTF-8 and documents color and Unicode font support. Try a font with the required glyphs or bpytop’s low-color option.
- Processes are missing: permissions limit what you can inspect. Use elevated privileges only when needed.
- You want the successor: btop is the separate C++ continuation. Install and launch it as btop, not bpytop.
For Arch installs, see the Pacman package-manager guide. Ubuntu users can check installed packages, then follow the guide to remove a package with apt.
Avoid trying to install a Fedora RPM directly on Ubuntu. The RPM package guide explains why package formats do not interchange cleanly. To investigate temperature readings, see the guide to checking CPU and GPU temperatures.
Conclusion: Choose bpytop or btop
bpytop provides resource panels and process controls in a terminal, while btop is the upstream C++ continuation. Check package availability before installing, then use the README for upstream details.
The bpytop README documents this program. The btop repository covers its successor.
FAQ
These answers cover package selection and the terminal requirements that affect bpytop’s display.
How do I install bpytop on Linux?
Use your distribution’s package manager if its current repository provides bpytop. Otherwise follow the upstream README’s PyPI or source installation instructions, and avoid installing into the system Python with sudo pip.
Why do bpytop graphs look broken in my terminal?
The upstream project requires UTF-8 and documents color and Unicode font requirements for its graphs. Try a terminal font with the required Unicode glyphs or use bpytop’s low-color option when truecolor is unsupported.
Is bpytop the same program as btop?
No. bpytop is the Python resource monitor, while btop is the C++ continuation of the project with a separate executable and package.