install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install pg_top

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add pg_top

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · pg_top · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%

sudo dnf install pg_top

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · pg_top · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#pg_top

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/pg/pg_top/package.nix · source: api.github.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%

sudo zypper install pg_top

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · pg_top · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

Monitor PostgreSQL processes

Project links

Commands and aliases

pg_top

history

Project history and usage

pg_top is an interactive top-like monitor for PostgreSQL processes, queries, locks, I/O, and replication activity.

Project history

pg_top was derived from Unix top to display PostgreSQL activity in a familiar full-screen terminal interface. The project was originally known as ptop and was renamed pg_top around the 3.6.2 release cycle in 2008.

Development later moved to the current PostgreSQL-community GitLab project. The 4.x line modernized the utility while preserving its core process view and adding views for SQL statements, query plans, locks, per-process I/O, and replication.

Adoption history

pg_top became a PostgreSQL community project and is distributed by multiple Unix-like package ecosystems. Its familiar top-style interface makes it useful to database administrators who want interactive process and query inspection without deploying a larger monitoring stack.

How it is used

Administrators run pg_top in a terminal to inspect PostgreSQL processes and active SQL, view query plans and locks, and examine I/O or replication statistics. Monitoring a remote database's operating-system process details requires the pg_proctab extension on the target database.

Why package nerds care

pg_top is part of the Unix tradition of small, interactive observability tools adapted to a particular subsystem. Its lineage from Unix top, long release history, terminal interface, and availability across package managers make it a recognizable PostgreSQL administration utility.

Timeline

2008: The project was renamed from ptop to pg_top during the 3.6.2 release cycle.
2013: Version 3.7.0 was released.
2020: Version 4.0.0 was released.
2025: Version 4.1.3 was released.

Related projects

Unix top
PostgreSQL
pg_proctab
pg_systat

Sources

security posture

Risk level: blue

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.

Risk classifier

blue risk · medium confidence · tool

Why

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal

Signals

text:sql

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 12 platform targets.
Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
Build metadata lists 3 build dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`pg_top`	cli	global executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-09-19

manager version3.7.0

manager updated2026-09-16

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://pg_top.gitlab.io

infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://pg_top.gitlab.ionone confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:pg_top
Version	3.7.0
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/pg_top
Homepage	https://pg_top.gitlab.io
Upstream docs	https://pg_top.gitlab.io
License	BSD-3-Clause
Source archive	https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/projects/pgFoundry/ptop/pg_top/3.7.0/pg_top-3.7.0.tar.bz2
Last updated	2026-09-16T14:00:33Z
Pulse	updated
Dependencies	libpq
Build dependencies	autoconf, automake, libtool
Uses from macOS	ncurses
Bottle	available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	pg_top
Version Scheme	0
Revision	4
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Nix95%

pg_top

nix profile install nixpkgs#pg_top

normalized package name match
Matched by: Pg Top

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/pg/pg_top/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

apk95%

pg_top 4.1.3-r0

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/pg_top.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment
pkg.so package database
pkgdb category and tag curation

Install pg_top with Homebrew, apk, dnf, Nix, zypper