How to Install and Use the Fast Terminal Resource Monitor Bpytop on Linux

For terminal enthusiasts, monitoring system resource usage is essential for informed maintenance decisions. While tools like top and htop show basic CPU and memory stats, bpytop offers a more efficient and visually appealing terminal‑based resource monitor.

Prerequisites

Python 3

psutil Python module ( python3 -m pip install psutil)

Installing from Source

Clone the repository and compile:

[root@localhost ~]# git clone https://github.com/aristocratos/bpytop.git
[root@localhost ~]# python3 -m pip install psutil
[root@localhost ~]# cd bpytop/
[root@localhost bpytop]# make install

If the psutil module is missing, bpytop will not start.

Installing psutil via Distribution Packages

# CentOS 8
[root@localhost ~]# yum -y install python3-psutil
# Ubuntu 18.04
bob@ubuntu-18-04:~$ sudo apt -y install python3-psutil

Package‑Manager Installations

Besides building from source, bpytop can be installed directly from repositories:

Ubuntu (snap) : sudo snap install bpytop CentOS 8 (dnf/yum) : dnf -y install bpytop FreeBSD (pkg) :

sudo pkg install bpytop

Running Bpytop

Start the monitor by typing: $ bpytop Use the ESC key to open the OPTIONS menu for theme and layout changes, navigate with arrow keys, and press h or ESC → HELP for the help screen. Exit with q or Ctrl+C.

Configuration

The configuration file resides at $HOME/.config/bpytop, where you can customize themes and other settings.

Conclusion

Bpytop provides a powerful, colorful, and interactive way to monitor CPU, memory, disks, network, and processes directly from the terminal, with flexible installation options across major Linux distributions.