How To Install Btop on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Monitoring system resources is essential for maintaining optimal performance on Linux systems. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS “Noble Numbat” users have several options for resource monitoring, but btop stands out as one of the most feature-rich and visually appealing options available. This comprehensive guide will walk you through various methods to install btop on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, followed by configuration tips and usage instructions to maximize your experience with this powerful monitoring tool.

Understanding Btop and Its Capabilities

Btop (also known as btop++) is a sophisticated command-line utility designed for comprehensive resource monitoring on Linux systems. Written in C++, btop represents the evolution of earlier monitoring tools like bashtop (written in Bash) and bpytop (written in Python). Unlike the traditional top command that many Linux users are familiar with, btop provides a more interactive and visually informative experience with a modern, customizable interface.

The tool offers a comprehensive view of your system’s vital statistics, displaying detailed information about CPU usage, memory consumption, disk activity, network utilization, and running processes. What sets btop apart from other monitoring tools is its user-friendly interface with full mouse support, allowing users to interact with the application using either keyboard shortcuts or mouse clicks. This hybrid approach makes system monitoring more intuitive, especially for users transitioning from graphical monitoring tools.

Btop’s distinctive features include a game-inspired menu system that makes navigation engaging, detailed statistics for selected processes, and the ability to easily switch between different sorting options. The tool also includes process filtering capabilities, signal sending to selected processes, and auto-scaling graphs for network I/O. Additionally, btop includes a battery meter and shows IO activity and speeds for disks, eliminating the need to run multiple complementary commands like ps, df, ifconfig, lscpu, or free -m.

Prerequisites for Installation

Before proceeding with the installation of btop on your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system, there are several prerequisites to consider. First, ensure you have a fully updated system by running the standard update commands. This ensures compatibility and prevents potential conflicts during installation.

You’ll need sufficient privileges to install software on your system, typically requiring a user account with sudo capabilities. Depending on the installation method you choose, you might need internet access to download packages or source files directly. For methods involving compilation from source or installing from GitHub releases, basic familiarity with terminal commands and package extraction will be beneficial.

If you’re planning to install btop on a fresh Ubuntu 24.04 LTS installation, you might want to ensure your system is properly set up first. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS was released earlier in 2024 with the code name “Noble Numbat,” featuring numerous improvements over previous versions. A proper system setup will ensure that btop functions correctly and can access all the necessary system information to provide accurate monitoring data.

Although btop doesn’t have significant hardware requirements, having a terminal that supports colors and preferably mouse interaction will enhance your experience with the tool. The application is designed to adapt to various terminal sizes, but a larger terminal window will provide a better view of all the information it displays.

Method 1: Installing Btop Using Package Manager (APT)

The most straightforward way to install btop on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is through the APT package manager. This method ensures you get a version that’s tested and compatible with your Ubuntu distribution, though it might not always be the latest release available from the developers.

To install btop using APT, open a terminal window and execute the following command:

sudo apt install btop -y

The `-y` flag automatically confirms the installation without prompting for confirmation. After running this command, APT will handle the download and installation process, resolving any dependencies required by btop.

This installation method is recommended for most users due to its simplicity and reliability. The package maintained in Ubuntu’s repositories has been tested for compatibility with the system, reducing the likelihood of conflicts or errors. Additionally, when updates are available, they can be easily installed through Ubuntu’s regular update process, keeping your btop installation current with minimal effort.

Once the installation is complete, you can verify that btop was installed successfully by checking its version:

btop --version

This command should display the version information for btop, confirming that the installation was successful. If you encounter any issues with the APT installation method, you may need to ensure that your package repositories are up-to-date or consider one of the alternative installation methods described below.

Method 2: Installing Btop Using Snap

Snap packages provide another convenient way to install applications on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Snaps are containerized software packages that work across many different Linux distributions, including Ubuntu. Installing btop via Snap ensures you get a consistent experience regardless of your underlying system configuration.

To install btop using Snap, execute the following command in your terminal:

sudo snap install btop

After installation, you might need to connect various interfaces to ensure btop has the necessary permissions to access system information. Run each of these commands to provide btop with the required access:

sudo snap connect btop:system-observe
sudo snap connect btop:physical-memory-observe
sudo snap connect btop:mount-observe
sudo snap connect btop:hardware-observe
sudo snap connect btop:network-observe
sudo snap connect btop:process-control

These connections are essential for btop to function correctly, as they grant the application the necessary permissions to monitor various aspects of your system. Without these connections, you might encounter error messages or missing information in btop’s interface.

The Snap installation method offers several advantages, including isolation from the rest of your system and automatic updates. However, this isolation can sometimes lead to slightly reduced performance compared to natively installed applications. Additionally, the Snap version might have minor differences in behavior due to the containerization.

Method 3: Installing Btop from GitHub Releases

For users who prefer the latest version of btop or want more control over the installation process, installing from GitHub releases is an excellent option. This method allows you to get the most recent features and improvements directly from the developers.

First, download the latest release of btop for your architecture. For most modern systems, the x86_64 version is appropriate:

wget -qO btop.tbz https://github.com/aristocratos/btop/releases/latest/download/btop-x86_64-linux-musl.tbz

Next, extract the btop executable to a location in your system’s PATH. The following command extracts it to /usr/local/bin, making it available to all users:

sudo tar xf btop.tbz --strip-components=2 -C /usr/local ./btop/bin/btop

After extraction, you can verify the installation by checking the version:

btop --version

Finally, clean up by removing the downloaded archive file:

rm -rf btop.tbz

Alternatively, you can follow the method described in the GitHub issue discussion, which involves more steps but gives you more control over the installation process:

# Download the release
wget https://github.com/aristocratos/btop/releases/download/v1.2.13/btop-x86_64-linux-musl.tbz

# Extract the archive
tar -xvf btop-x86_64-linux-musl.tbz

# Install using the provided script
cd btop && ./install.sh

This installation method provides the most up-to-date version of btop, potentially with features or bug fixes not yet available in the repository or Snap versions. However, it requires manual updating when new versions are released and might not integrate as seamlessly with Ubuntu’s package management system.

Basic Usage and Navigation

After successfully installing btop, you can launch it by simply typing `btop` in your terminal. Upon launching, you’ll be presented with a comprehensive view of your system’s resources and running processes. The interface is divided into several sections, each displaying different aspects of your system.

Navigating btop is intuitive, especially given its support for both keyboard and mouse input. You can use arrow keys to move between different sections and selections or simply click on elements with your mouse. The main menu can be accessed by pressing the Esc or M key, providing options to change settings, view help information, or exit the application.

Within the interface, you’ll notice certain highlighted letters in the titles of each panel. These letters correspond to keyboard shortcuts you can use to control that specific panel. For example, pressing the P key (corresponding to “preset”) allows you to switch between different preset layouts. This intuitive design makes btop accessible even for users who are new to command-line monitoring tools.

To exit btop, you can press Ctrl+C, Q, or select the exit option from the main menu. This flexibility in input methods makes btop more accessible than traditional command-line tools, which typically rely solely on keyboard shortcuts.

Configuring and Customizing Btop

One of btop’s strengths is its high degree of customizability, allowing you to tailor the interface and functionality to your specific needs. The configuration menu can be accessed through the main menu (press Esc or M), providing numerous options to adjust the appearance and behavior of btop.

Btop features various themes that alter the color scheme and visual presentation of the interface. These themes can be selected through the configuration menu, allowing you to choose a style that suits your preferences or matches your terminal theme. Some users prefer darker themes for reduced eye strain during extended monitoring sessions, while others might opt for higher contrast themes for better readability.

The layout of btop can also be customized, allowing you to show or hide specific panels based on your monitoring priorities. For example, if you’re primarily interested in CPU and memory usage, you can configure btop to emphasize those panels and minimize or hide others. This flexibility ensures that the most relevant information for your use case is prominently displayed.

Process display options can be adjusted to show processes as a tree, displaying parent-child relationships between processes. This view can be particularly useful for understanding application structure and identifying resource-intensive components of larger applications. You can also configure filtering options to focus on specific processes or users, making it easier to monitor particular applications or services.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Btop. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing Btop on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Ubuntu website.