How does htop command differ between distributions?

The htop command is a powerful interactive process viewer for Unix systems, but its implementation and features can vary between different Linux distributions. The differences can stem from the way the package is configured, the default settings, and the version being used. Below are some key distinctions:

  • Default Installation: Some distributions, like Ubuntu, might come with a pre-installed version of htop, whereas others like Arch Linux may require users to install it manually from the package manager.
  • Available Features: Different distributions may compile htop with varying features. For example, some might include support for multi-threaded processes or enhanced color schemes, while others may not.
  • User Interface Customization: The default color palette and layout of htop can differ based on the distribution's theme and settings, impacting how users perceive and interact with it.
  • System Compatibility: Versions of htop may be tailored to specific kernel versions or system libraries present in the distribution, affecting functionality.

To install htop on various distributions, you can use the following command examples:

# Ubuntu/Debian sudo apt install htop # Fedora sudo dnf install htop # Arch Linux sudo pacman -S htop

htop command Linux distributions process viewer system monitoring interactive process viewer