pstree ☆
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Description:
Show ps output as a tree
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: System utilities
Tags: processes system-monitoring tree utilities cli
Install: brew install pstree
About:
Pstree is a Perl script that enhances the standard ps command by displaying running processes in a hierarchical tree format. It visualizes parent-child relationships between processes, making it easier to understand complex process dependencies. This tool is particularly useful for identifying orphaned processes or understanding the structure of daemon services.
Key Features:
  • Displays processes in an indented tree format showing parent-child relationships
  • Shows process IDs (PIDs) and user information alongside process names
  • Provides color output for better readability
  • Supports various sorting and filtering options
Use Cases:
  • Debugging complex process hierarchies and identifying parent processes
  • Finding and tracking down orphaned or zombie processes
  • Understanding service dependencies in system administration tasks
Alternatives:
  • pstree (procps-ng) – The procps-ng version is more commonly pre-installed on Linux systems, while FredHucht's version offers additional features and Perl-based portability
  • ps -ef f – Standard ps command with forest option provides similar output but with less formatting flexibility
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Sep 16, 2025 3:47pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 81ce1acb
Aug 12, 2024 4:39pm 0 VERSION_BUMP ec6b92a1
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