nactivity

nactivity is a lightweight, text-based terminal application designed for Unix-like operating systems. It serves as a minimalist alternative to more complex graphical task managers, providing users with a simple way to monitor and manage running processes. Developed primarily for Linux, nactivity is written in C and is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), making it freely available for modification and redistribution.

The application displays a list of currently running processes in a compact, single-column format, showing essential information such as process IDs (PIDs), user names, CPU usage percentages, memory consumption, and command names. Unlike traditional process viewers like `top` or `htop`, nactivity presents data in a straightforward, non-interactive manner, making it ideal for users who prefer a quick, uncluttered overview of system activity. Its design prioritizes simplicity and efficiency, avoiding unnecessary features that might complicate its functionality.

nactivity is particularly useful for users who rely on the command line for system administration or monitoring. Its minimalist approach ensures low resource usage, making it suitable for systems with limited hardware capabilities. The tool can be easily integrated into scripts or used as a quick reference when troubleshooting system performance issues.

While nactivity lacks advanced features such as interactive sorting or filtering, its simplicity and speed make it a valuable tool for users seeking a no-frills process viewer. It is often recommended for those who prefer a lightweight solution over more feature-rich alternatives. The application can be installed via package managers on most Linux distributions or compiled from source using standard build tools.