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Asked: 2024-09-25T17:46:14+05:30 In:

How can I obtain a list of active processes and applications currently running on my system in Ubuntu?

So, I’ve been diving into Ubuntu lately, trying to get a better handle on the whole operating system vibe, and I’m kind of hitting a stumbling block. I mean, it’s not my first time using a Linux-based system, but there’s always something new to learn, right?

Here’s the deal: I’ve got this curious itch to see what’s actually running on my machine at any given time. You know, like all those processes and applications that are humming along in the background? I want to know what’s consuming my resources and if there’s anything fishy going on. It’s like being a detective in your own computer, and I’m all about that sleuthing life!

Now, I’ve poked around a bit, trying to figure things out. I’ve opened up the terminal (yes, the command line is where the magic happens!) and I’m just unsure about what commands I need to type out to get a comprehensive list of everything that’s active. I get that there are a few commands that could help me out like `ps`, `top`, or maybe even `htop`, but it’s a bit overwhelming with so many options.

What I really want is a straightforward way to see not just the names of processes, but maybe even their statuses, resource usage, and how long they’ve been running. You know, some proper insight into what’s eating up my CPU and RAM! Also, it would be great if I could see which graphical applications are open, in case something weird is running that I don’t even remember launching.

If anyone out there has some pointers or could break it down for me in a playable way, that would be super awesome! I’d love to hear about the commands you use or any tips on how to make this easier to understand. Oh, and if there are any graphical tools you recommend for checking processes, I’m all ears too! It’s always nice to have options, right? Thanks in advance for your help!

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    2 Answers






    1. Ubuntu Process Inquiry

      Checking Active Processes in Ubuntu

      Ah, diving into the world of processes can definitely be a wild ride! Lucky for you, Ubuntu has some pretty nifty tools that can help you sleuth through what’s happening behind the scenes.

      First off, you’re already on the right track thinking about ps, top, and htop. Here’s a quick rundown of what they do:

      • ps aux: This command gives you a snapshot of all the currently running processes. The aux flags show you everything from all users, processes running, their resource usage, and more.
      • top: When you want a live view of what’s eating your CPU and memory, just type top in the terminal. It updates in real-time and shows you which processes are taking up the most resources.
      • htop: If you prefer a more colorful and interactive interface, install htop (you can usually do this with sudo apt install htop). Launch it by typing htop in the terminal, and it’ll show you a list of processes like top, but you can scroll through and kill processes with ease. Much nicer, right?

      To see which graphical applications are running, you might want to use the built-in System Monitor tool. Just search for “System Monitor” in your applications. It gives you a neat graphical view of processes along with their CPU and memory usage. Super user-friendly!

      Another cool command is pgrep -l keyword, where you can substitute keyword with part of a process name. It’ll help you spot specific processes that might be causing you trouble.

      Don’t forget, if you identify any processes that seem fishy, you can look them up online to see if they’re legit or if something just slipped through the cracks. Being a detective is all about those details!

      So there you go! Play around with these commands and tools, and you’ll feel like a pro sleuthing around your Ubuntu machine in no time!



    2. To get a comprehensive view of all the processes running on your Ubuntu machine, you can use a few powerful command-line tools. The `ps` command is a good starting point. You can use `ps aux` to display all running processes along with their user, CPU and memory usage, and the time they have been running. If you want real-time monitoring, the `top` command offers a dynamic view of processes, updating every few seconds to show you which ones are consuming the most resources. For a more user-friendly interface, consider using `htop`, which is an enhanced version of `top` that provides a color-coded display and allows for easy navigation and filtering of processes. You can install it by running `sudo apt install htop`. Simply typing `htop` in the terminal will give you a clearer view of what’s happening on your system.

      Besides these terminal-based options, there are also graphical tools that can make the process easier if you prefer a point-and-click interface. The System Monitor in Ubuntu is a great choice; you can find it in your applications menu. It provides a friendly GUI where you can see running processes, their resource usage, and other metrics like CPU and memory consumption. Another excellent tool is `Glances`, which can be installed via `sudo apt install glances`, and gives you a comprehensive overview of system resource usage. These tools can significantly aid your sleuthing endeavors, making it easier to see if any suspicious applications are running and how your system resources are being allocated.


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