ctop
A top-like command-line interface for monitoring real-time metrics of multiple containers.
What is ctop?
ctop is a command-line utility that provides a top-like interface for monitoring real-time metrics of containers. It aggregates and displays key performance indicators like CPU, memory, and network usage for multiple containers in a single view, helping users quickly identify issues and manage containerized workloads. The tool is designed to be lightweight and intuitive, offering both an overview of all containers and detailed inspection of individual ones.
System administrators, DevOps engineers, and developers who work with Docker or runC containers and need efficient, terminal-based monitoring without relying on graphical interfaces or complex dashboards.
ctop stands out for its simplicity and speed, delivering essential container monitoring in a familiar top-like format that reduces cognitive load. It offers interactive features like filtering, sorting, and log access directly from the keyboard, making it a practical choice for real-time troubleshooting and performance analysis in container environments.
Overview
Top-like interface for container metrics
Use Cases
Best For
- Monitoring Docker container performance in real-time from the terminal
- Quickly identifying resource-hungry containers in a development or production environment
- Inspecting container logs and executing commands without switching to Docker CLI
- Managing multiple containers simultaneously with keyboard-driven controls
- Gaining a high-level overview of container health and status during deployments
- Troubleshooting container issues with immediate access to metrics and logs
Not Ideal For
- Monitoring Kubernetes pods or multi-node container orchestrations
- Long-term performance trend analysis and historical data storage
- Teams requiring graphical dashboards for shared visibility and reporting
Pros & Cons
Pros
Displays a condensed grid of live metrics for all containers simultaneously, as shown in the README's GIF, enabling quick overviews without switching contexts.
Offers keybindings for filtering, sorting, opening logs, and executing shells, making it efficient for hands-on monitoring without mouse dependency, as detailed in the keybindings table.
Provides a detailed view for inspecting specific container performance and logs, accessible via the 'o' keybinding, allowing in-depth troubleshooting.
Allows saving of filters, sort settings, and preferences to a config file using 'S', ensuring consistent sessions across uses, as mentioned in the config file section.
Cons
Currently only supports Docker and runC; connectors for other systems like Kubernetes are merely planned and not implemented, restricting its use in diverse environments.
Focuses solely on real-time data without capabilities for storing or analyzing past performance trends, limiting its utility for long-term diagnostics and reporting.
Lacks a graphical user interface or web dashboard, which may be less suitable for teams preferring visual analytics or non-terminal users, despite its efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Projects
fzf:cherry_blossom: A command-line fuzzy finder
diveA tool for exploring each layer in a docker image
lazydockerThe lazier way to manage everything docker
spdlogFast C++ logging library.
Found a gem we're missing?
Open-Awesome is built by the community, for the community. Submit a project, suggest an awesome list, or help improve the catalog on GitHub.