Sloth
A native macOS GUI for lsof that displays all open files, directories, sockets, pipes, and devices used by running processes.
What is Sloth?
Sloth is a native macOS application that provides a graphical user interface for the `lsof` command-line tool. It displays all open files, directories, sockets, pipes, and devices currently in use by every running process on the system, helping users diagnose resource usage and identify which applications are accessing specific files or network connections.
macOS users, system administrators, and developers who need to monitor or troubleshoot system resource usage, file locks, network sockets, or inter-process communication on their Mac.
Developers choose Sloth because it offers a fast, native GUI that makes the complex output of `lsof` easily searchable, sortable, and visually explorable, with additional features like filtering, detailed inspection panels, and root-privilege scanning that the command-line tool lacks.
Overview
Mac app that shows all open files, directories, sockets, pipes and devices in use by all running processes. Nice GUI for lsof.
Use Cases
Best For
- Identifying which process is locking or using a specific file
- Monitoring open network sockets and connections on macOS
- Inspecting pipes and Unix domain sockets between processes
- Troubleshooting application resource usage or file access issues
- Analyzing system activity with a graphical, filterable interface
- Replacing manual `lsof` command-line queries with a visual tool
Not Ideal For
- Users on Linux or Windows needing cross-platform file and socket monitoring
- System administrators who require scriptable, command-line integration for automation
- Projects needing real-time, continuous monitoring of system resources without manual refresh
Pros & Cons
Pros
Shows all open files, directories, sockets, pipes, and devices across every process, providing a complete system view as stated in the README's key features.
Allows filtering using regular expressions by name, access mode, volume, type, and location, making it easy to pinpoint specific resources based on the README.
Built with Objective-C and Cocoa, offering fast performance and seamless integration with macOS features like in-app root-privilege scanning.
Transforms complex lsof output into a sortable, searchable graphical view with contextual menus and detailed inspection windows, enhancing accessibility.
Cons
Exclusive to macOS, so it cannot be used on other operating systems, limiting its utility for cross-platform developers or admins.
Does not update in real-time; users must manually refresh to see current open files and sockets, which can miss transient activity.
Inherits the capabilities and limitations of the lsof command-line tool, with no additional features beyond parsing and displaying its output.
Frequently Asked Questions
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