LibreAI / Dev Tools / abtop
// devtools · graykode/abtop

abtop

Like htop, but for AI coding agents — watch Claude Code and Codex sessions in real time.

★ 3.7k stars⑂ 332 forksMITupdated 2026-09
▦ visual — this project's README ships no embeddable screenshot,
so here's a placeholder. The guide below is complete regardless.
// project facts

Project facts

abtop is an open-source dev tools project by graykode (graykode/abtop on GitHub). It has 3,708 GitHub stars and 332 forks, is released under the MIT license, and was last updated on GitHub on 14 September 2026.

Repository
graykode/abtop
GitHub stars
3,708
Forks
332
License
MIT
Last updated on GitHub
14 September 2026
Category
Dev Tools
Listing
Full install guide
// how it works

How it works

  1. Clarify your goal

    Decide the first concrete outcome you want from it, so you can pick the right example, template or mode instead of exploring everything at once.

  2. Get the project

    Clone the repository (or install the published package) and skim its README quick start for the requirements for your platform.

  3. Install and configure

    Run the documented install step and set any required configuration — such as provider keys, data sources or local services — before the first run.

  4. Run your first task

    Execute the smallest documented example end to end, confirm the output is what you expected, then adapt it to your real data or workflow.

// features

Why people love it

Real-time session monitoring

Watch Claude Code and Codex CLI sessions, tokens, context windows and rate limits update live.

Terminal jump

Press Enter on a session to jump straight to the terminal pane running that agent.

Port visibility

See the ports your agents and their tools are using, in the same view.

Themes and languages

Multiple TUI themes and a UI language setting that auto-detects from LANG.

Library / JSON snapshot

Take a JSON snapshot of session state for scripts and dashboards.

Privacy-respecting

Local monitoring of your own sessions — see the README's Privacy section for exactly what it reads.

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// run it

Run it yourself

  1. Clone the repository

    Get the source so you can inspect, configure and run it locally.

    git clone https://github.com/graykode/abtop.git
    cd abtop
  2. Install abtop

    Use the installer script, or Cargo if you have a Rust toolchain.

    curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -LsSf https://github.com/graykode/abtop/releases/latest/download/abtop-installer.sh | sh
    # or: cargo install abtop
  3. Run it next to your agents

    Open abtop in one pane (120x40 or larger recommended) while agents work in others, and jump with Enter.

    abtop  # add --mouse if you prefer click targets
// use cases

What you can build

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// faq

Questions, answered

Who maintains abtop?

It is maintained by graykode on GitHub (graykode/abtop), where the source, issues and releases live.

Is it free to use?

Yes — it is free and open source under the MIT licence, which permits use, modification and redistribution, including commercially, with attribution.

Does it need a paid API key?

No — abtop only monitors your local agent CLIs; it needs no API key of its own.

How does it compare to btop/htop (which know nothing about AI agents)?

Compared with btop/htop (which know nothing about AI agents), abtop's distinguishing focus is: like htop, but for AI coding agents — watch Claude Code and Codex sessions in real time. Pick it when that focus matches your need; the alternative may suit you better if its broader or different scope is the priority.

How do I get started?

Clone https://github.com/graykode/abtop (or install its published package), follow the README quick start to install and configure it, then run the smallest documented example — the Run section on this page mirrors those steps.

// keep exploring

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// alternatives

Alternatives in Dev Tools

The most-starred other Dev Tools projects in the LibreAI catalogue — the realistic shortlist if abtop is not the right fit.

Get abtop

Free and open — grab the source, star the repo, and start creating.