Sloth
Mac app for viewing all open files, sockets and processes
AI Summary
Sloth is a native macOS application that provides a clear overview of all open files, directories, IP sockets, pipes and devices across all running processes. The app is a user-friendly graphical interface for the lsof command-line tool with advanced filtering, search and sorting capabilities. In development since 2004, it offers detailed insights into system resources and process activities.
✓ Pros
- + Free open-source software with over 20 years of continuous development
- + Native, fast Cocoa app with intuitive GUI and extensive filtering options
- + Root access support for complete system analysis directly within the app
✗ Cons
- − Exclusively available for macOS, no cross-platform support
- − Requires technical understanding of system resources and processes for effective use
Use Cases
- → Debugging apps to check which files and network connections are being used
- → Monitoring network sockets and open ports for security analysis
- → Identifying processes that are blocking or locking specific files
- → Analyzing communication channels between processes via pipes and Unix sockets
Who is it for?
Developers, system administrators and technical power users on macOS who want to monitor and debug processes and system resources.
Tags
What is Sloth?
Sloth is a native macOS app that displays all open files, directories, IP sockets, pipes and devices of all running processes in a graphical interface. Technically, Sloth is a frontend for lsof, the classic Unix command-line tool. What lsof outputs in the terminal as a raw data stream, Sloth presents in a clearly organised, filterable and searchable view. The project has existed since 2004 and is still actively maintained.
Core features
- Process and resource overview: Displays all open files, sockets, pipes and devices per process in real time.
- Filter and search functions: Narrows the view by process name, file type or path.
- Root access directly in the app: Elevated access can be activated without switching to the terminal for a complete system analysis.
- Network analysis: Open IP sockets and ports can be inspected per process, which simplifies security analysis.
- Identifying process locks: Anyone trying to delete a file or eject a volume that a process has in use can find the responsible process here.
Who is Sloth for?
The primary audience is developers and system administrators on macOS. Sloth becomes useful in situations where an app is behaving strangely and you want to know which files it currently holds or which network connections it has established. The tool also works for security analysis: open ports can be mapped directly to a process without combining multiple terminal commands.
Anyone unfamiliar with concepts like file descriptors, Unix sockets or lsof will need some time to get started. The interface does not explain itself and assumes you know what you are looking for.
Context & alternatives
Sloth belongs to the category of system monitor tools for macOS, with a specific focus on the process and file level. Activity Monitor, Apple's built-in tool, shows CPU and memory usage but has no view for open files or sockets. The lsof command itself provides the same data but requires manual filtering work in the terminal. Anyone who regularly evaluates lsof output and wants to avoid switching between the terminal and a GUI will benefit directly from Sloth.
