How to Install and Use Nexttrace: A High‑Performance Visual Traceroute CLI

Nexttrace (sjlleo/nexttrace) is an open‑source visual route‑tracking CLI written in Go. It provides clear TraceRoute output in the terminal and optional map‑based visualisation, supporting both IPv4 and IPv6.

Installation

Install the tool using one of the following methods:

# Linux one‑click install script
bash <(curl -Ls https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sjlleo/nexttrace/main/nt_install.sh)

# Using GHPROXY for faster access in China
bash <(curl -Ls https://ghproxy.com/https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sjlleo/nexttrace/main/nt_install.sh)

# macOS via Homebrew
brew tap xgadget-lab/nexttrace && brew install nexttrace

Basic Usage

Nexttrace defaults to ICMP traceroute, which works for both IPv4 and IPv6. Common commands include:

# IPv4 ICMP trace
nexttrace 1.0.0.1

# Trace a URL
nexttrace http://example.com:8080/index.html?q=1

# Table output (real‑time updates)
nexttrace --table 1.0.0.1

# IPv6 ICMP trace
nexttrace 2606:4700:4700::1111

# Disable map visualisation
nexttrace koreacentral.blob.core.windows.net
# Map trace URL example
https://api.leo.moe/tracemap/html/c14e439e-3250-5310-8965-42a1e3545266.html

Advanced Features

Beyond basic tracing, Nexttrace offers:

Fast‑trace mode for quick round‑trip tests (supports both IPv4 and IPv6).

# Fast trace (default ICMP)
nexttrace --fast-trace
# Fast trace using TCP SYN instead of ICMP
nexttrace --fast-trace --tcp

Specify a network interface for tracing.

# Use eth0 interface (IPv6 example)
nexttrace --dev eth0 2606:4700:4700::1111
# Use a source IP address (must match IP version)
nexttrace --source 204.98.134.56 9.9.9.9

TCP and UDP traceroute support (UDP currently IPv4 only).

# TCP SYN trace
nexttrace --tcp www.bing.com
# TCP with custom port (default 80)
nexttrace --tcp --port 443 2001:4860:4860::8888
# UDP trace (IPv4)
nexttrace --udp 1.0.0.1
# UDP with custom port (default 53)
nexttrace --udp --port 5353 1.0.0.1

Additional controls such as TTL adjustment, concurrency limits, and mode switching.

The tool’s star trend graph and screenshots illustrate its popularity and UI, but the core functionality is captured in the commands above.