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I prefer htop over top on my Linux server.  Running a Solr index got me thinking how can I install htop on macOS Big Sur 11.4 based MacBook pro?

If you don't already know htop is comparable to the top command, but it has additional options.  The htop allows you to scroll vertically and horizontally, so you can see all the processes running on the system.  You can get command lines and args. Common tasks related to processes (killing, renicing) done without entering their PIDs. This page explains how to install htop on macOS or mac os x using the CLI.

 

How to install htop on macOS Unix desktop

You can install htop using the brew command and the procedure is as follows.

Open the Terminal app (Applications/Utilities) on mac OS

brew install htop

Start htop at the bash shell on the Mac OS or computer

 

When you run the brew install htop, you will see an output something similar to:

==> Installing dependencies for htop: ncurses
==> Installing htop dependency: ncurses
==> Pouring ncurses--6.2.big_sur.bottle.tar.gz
🍺  /usr/local/Cellar/ncurses/6.2: 3,913 files, 8.9MB
==> Installing htop
==> Pouring htop--3.0.5.big_sur.bottle.tar.gz
==> Caveats
htop requires root privileges to correctly display all running processes,
so you will need to run `sudo htop`.
You should be certain that you trust any software you grant root privileges.
==> Summary
🍺  /usr/local/Cellar/htop/3.0.5: 12 files, 269.3KB
==> Caveats
==> htop
htop requires root privileges to correctly display all running processes,
so you will need to run `sudo htop`.
You should be certain that you trust any software you grant root privileges.

Staying in Terminal, run the command

htop

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