macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install glanceslocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install glancesMacPorts ports tree · sysutils/glances/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install glances with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Alternative to top/htop. Version 4.5.5 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-14.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add glancesAlpine Linux edge package indexes · glances · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install glancesDebian stable package indexes · glances · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install glancesFedora Rawhide package metadata · glances · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#glancesnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/gl/glances/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S glancesArch Linux sync databases · glances · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install python311-GlancesopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · python311-Glances · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Alternative to top/htop
Project links
Commands and aliases
- glances
history
Project history and usage
Glances is a Python system monitor that compresses CPU, memory, disk, network, process, sensor, container, and service data into a terminal or web dashboard. It is often described as an alternative to top and htop, but its project documentation emphasizes remote monitoring, APIs, export modules, and plugin-oriented extensibility.
Project history
Public development traces back to the early 2010s in the GitHub repository. The project grew from a terminal dashboard into a cross-platform monitoring application with curses, web, client/server, REST, XML-RPC, stdout, CSV, JSON, export, Docker, and Python API use cases.
The documentation describes Glances as an open architecture built in Python around libraries that gather system information. That architecture let the project add plugins and export modules without turning the core command into a single-purpose top clone.
Adoption history
Glances spread through Python packaging and operating-system package repositories because it gives administrators one command that works across Linux, macOS, Windows, BSD-like systems, containers, and remote hosts. Its repository advertises PyPI, Docker, contributor, download, and community badges, reflecting use both as a local troubleshooting tool and as a lightweight monitoring endpoint.
How it is used
Practitioners run glances for an immediate terminal overview, glances -w for a browser dashboard and REST API, glances -s and glances -c for client/server monitoring, glances --stdout or --stdout-json for scripts, and glances --fetch for a quick machine summary. Optional extras enable web and export features, while the Python API lets scripts consume the same plugin data.
Why package nerds care
For package users, Glances is attractive because a single executable can replace a pile of small inspection commands during triage. For maintainers, the package is a Python application with optional extras, psutil-based system bindings, shell completion support, Docker images, and many OS-level distribution targets.
Timeline
- 2011: Early public GitHub commits show the project already tracking screenshots and monitoring UI work.
- 2018: Documentation examples show stdout CSV output for scripting-oriented monitoring.
- 2020s: Documentation covers terminal, web, API, export, Docker, and Python-library modes.
Related projects
- psutil, top, htop, Docker, Read the Docs, PyPI.
Sources
- https://api.github.com/repos/nicolargo/glances/commits?per_page=1&until=2012-01-01T00:00:00Z
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nicolargo/glances/develop/README.rst
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nicolargo/glances/develop/docs/index.rst
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nicolargo/glances/develop/docs/install.rst
security posture
No protected-tool coverage found yet
No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for glances. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 4 runtime dependencies.
- Build metadata lists 1 build dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Linux
~/.config/glances/glances.conf/etc/glances/glances.conf/usr/share/doc/glances/glances.conf- macOS
~/.config/glances/glances.conf~/Library/Application Support/glances/glances.conf/usr/local/etc/glances/glances.conf/usr/share/doc/glances/glances.conf- Windows
%APPDATA%\glances\glances.conf
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
glances | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version4.5.5
manager updated2026-06-14
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://nicolargo.github.io/glances/
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://nicolargo.github.io/glances/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:glances |
|---|---|
| Version | 4.5.5 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/glances |
| Homepage | https://nicolargo.github.io/glances/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/nicolargo/glances |
| Upstream docs | https://glances.readthedocs.io/ |
| License | LGPL-3.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/00/f4/700e0e8472783b91532c527d3821c05c7766c7610aec69bbcce47829d19e/glances-4.5.5.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-14T15:49:04Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | certifi, cryptography, pydantic, python@3.14 |
| Build dependencies | rust |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | glances |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
glances 4.3.1+dfsg-1
Curses-based monitoring tool
https://github.com/nicolargo/glances
sudo apt install glances- Section: utils
- Architecture: all
- 8 dependencies
- 13 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Glances
Debian apt95%
glances-doc 4.3.1+dfsg-1
Documentation for glances Curses-based monitoring tool
https://github.com/nicolargo/glances
sudo apt install glances-doc- Section: doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: glances
- 7 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Glances
Nix95%
glances
nix profile install nixpkgs#glances- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Glances
Ubuntu apt95%
glances 3.4.0.3+dfsg-1
Curses-based monitoring tool
https://github.com/nicolargo/glances
sudo apt install glances- Section: universe/utils
- Architecture: all
- 8 dependencies
- 10 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Glances
Ubuntu apt95%
glances-doc 3.4.0.3+dfsg-1
Documentation for glances Curses-based monitoring tool
https://github.com/nicolargo/glances
sudo apt install glances-doc- Section: universe/doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: glances
- 7 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Glances
apk95%
glances 4.5.4-r0
CLI curses based monitoring tool
https://nicolargo.github.io/glances/
sudo apk add glances- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: glances
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Glances
apk95%
glances-doc 4.5.4-r0
CLI curses based monitoring tool (documentation)
https://nicolargo.github.io/glances/
sudo apk add glances-doc- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: glances
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Glances
dnf95%
glances 4.3.0.8-7.fc45
A cross-platform system monitoring tool
https://nicolargo.github.io/glances/
sudo dnf install glances- License: LGPL-3.0-only AND MIT
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: glances
- 7 dependencies
- 4 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Glances
pacman95%
glances 4.5.4-1
CLI curses-based monitoring tool
https://nicolargo.github.io/glances
sudo pacman -S glances- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later
- Architecture: any
- 8 dependencies
- 13 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Glances
zypper95%
python311-Glances 4.5.4-1.1
A cross-platform curses-based monitoring tool
https://github.com/nicolargo/glances
sudo zypper install python311-Glances- License: LGPL-3.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: python-Glances
- 9 dependencies
- 5 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Glances
zypper95%
python313-Glances 4.5.4-1.1
A cross-platform curses-based monitoring tool
https://github.com/nicolargo/glances
sudo zypper install python313-Glances- License: LGPL-3.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: python-Glances
- 9 dependencies
- 7 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Glances
zypper95%
python314-Glances 4.5.4-1.1
A cross-platform curses-based monitoring tool
https://github.com/nicolargo/glances
sudo zypper install python314-Glances- License: LGPL-3.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: python-Glances
- 9 dependencies
- 5 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Glances
MacPorts95%
glances
sudo port install glances- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Glances
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment