# glances

> Cross-platform system monitoring tool with real-time stats display via terminal, web interface, or API

Stars: 33.9k · Language: Python · License: LGPL-3.0 · Categories: System

- Repository: https://github.com/nicolargo/glances
- Website: http://nicolargo.github.io/glances/
- Page: https://www.trmn.sh/tools/glances

## Install

- pip: `pip install glances`
- pip (full): `pip install 'glances[all]'`
- uvx: `uvx glances`

## Overview

Glances is a cross-platform system monitoring tool that provides real-time monitoring of CPU, memory, disk, network usage, running processes, temperatures, voltages, and fan speeds. It supports container monitoring for Docker and LXC, presenting information through a terminal dashboard, web interface, or command-line output.

The tool operates in multiple modes including standalone terminal display, web server mode with HTTP/RESTful API access, and client/server mode for remote monitoring. It can export statistics to various formats including CSV, JSON, and direct stdout output, with support for querying specific metrics like `glances --stdout cpu.user,mem.used,load`. Stats can also be exported to external databases like InfluxDB, ElasticSearch, PostgreSQL, and message brokers.

Glances includes a built-in MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that allows AI assistants like Claude and Cursor to query system information directly. The tool provides a Python API through the `glances.api` module, enabling programmatic access to all monitoring data. It supports network discovery to detect other Glances servers and includes a browser mode for managing multiple monitored systems through both TUI and WebUI interfaces.

### Installation

```bash
# via pip
pip install glances
```

```bash
# via pip (full)
pip install 'glances[all]'
```

```bash
# via uvx
uvx glances
```

## Alternatives

- [BorgBackup](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/borg.md): Deduplicating backup program with optional compression and authenticated encryption, supporting ssh, sftp, s3, b2 and rclone targets, and mountable archives. (Python, 13.9k stars)
- [bpytop](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/bpytop.md): Terminal-based system resource monitor showing CPU, memory, disk, network and process usage with interactive interface (Python, 10.9k stars)
- [auto-cpufreq](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/auto-cpufreq.md): Linux CPU speed and power optimizer that adjusts governor and turbo boost based on battery state, CPU load and temperature. Includes CLI, daemon and GUI. (Python, 7.9k stars)
- [nvitop](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/nvitop.md): Interactive NVIDIA GPU and process monitor in Python with tree view, filtering, signal sending, a CUDA device selector (nvisel), and APIs for custom tools. (Python, 7.2k stars)
- [tuptime](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/tuptime.md): System uptime tracking tool that preserves historical uptime/downtime statistics across reboots with detailed reporting (Python, 318 stars)

## Guides

- [Modern Replacements for top](https://www.trmn.sh/replace/top): Replace top with htop, btop, or bottom: process lists, graphs, and tree views compared, plus Glances for stdout and API export.
- [Best Terminal System Monitors](https://www.trmn.sh/best/system-monitors): Compare btop, htop, bottom, glances and zenith: terminal system monitors for CPU, memory, disk, network and processes.

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Canonical: https://www.trmn.sh/tools/glances