pgtree

Unix process hierarchy tree display for specific processes (kind of mixed pgrep + pstree)

Same features as joknarf/pgtree but most portable, as no python needed, pure bash implementation

pre-requisites

• bash 4+

Features

• display process tree (parent + children) and optionnally threads
• filter process/threads tree using pgrep options / pattern
• limit tree to processes and their children
• customize ps fields to output
• can send kill or kill -9 to processes and their children
• watch process tree
• supports all unix/linux/macos

The purpose is to have the tool working out of the box on any Unix box.

Should work on any Unix that can execute :

# /usr/bin/pgrep 
# /usr/bin/ps ax -o pid,ppid,stime,user,ucomm,args

if pgrep command not available (AIX), pgtree uses built-in pgrep (-f -i -x -u <user> supported).

-T option to display threads only works if ps ax -T -o spid,ppid / pgrep -w available on system (ubuntu/redhat...)

pgtree Tested on various versions of RedHat / CentOS / Ubuntu / Debian / Suse / FreeBSD / ArchLinux / MacOS / Solaris / AIX including old versions

(uses -o fname on Solaris)

Examples

show all parents and children of processes matching bash

show processes matching bash and their children

kill all sh processes of user joknarf and their children

Customize ps output fields:

Put default options in PGTREE env variable:

# export PGTREE='-1 -O %cpu,stime -C y'
# pgtree

Use watch utility to follow process tree:

# pgtree -W bash

Demo

Install

FYI, the pgt/pgtree.sh is standalone and can be directly copied/used anywhere without any installation.

install using git:

# git clone https://github.com/joknarf/pgt

Usage

# pgtree -h
    usage: pgtree [-W] [-RIya] [-C <when>] [-O <psfield>] [-c|-k|-K] [-1|-p <pid1>,...|<pgrep args>]

    -I : use -o uid instead of -o user for ps command
         (if uid/user mapping is broken ps command can be stuck)
    -c : display processes and children only 
    -k : kill -TERM processes and children
    -K : kill -KILL processes and children
    -y : do not ask for confirmation to kill
    -R : force use of internal pgrep
    -C : color preference : y/yes/always or n/no/never (default auto)
    -w : tty wrap text : y/yes or n/no (default y)
    -W : watch and follow process tree every 2s
    -a : use ascii characters
    -T : display threads (ps -T)
    -O <psfield>[,psfield,...] : display multiple <psfield> instead of 'stime' in output
                   <psfield> must be valid with ps -o <psfield> command

    by default display full process hierarchy (parents + children of selected processes)

    -p <pids> : select processes pids to display hierarchy (default 0)
    -1 : display hierachy children of pid 1 (not including pid 0)
    <pgrep args> : use pgrep to select processes (see pgrep -h)

    found pids are prefixed with ▶