The top utility will require no introduction to experienced Linux users. It is a tiny utility that provides a dynamic real-time view of a running system, and is regarded as the standard tool for monitoring processes on a system. It helps with system administration by identifying users and processes that are hogging the system. It is also useful for non-system administrators, helping to track and kill errant processes. However, top is showing its age and there are a bunch of utilities that offer a more feature-laden alternative.