How to Install kmon on Linux

Updated

kmon is a Linux kernel manager and activity monitor, distributed as an open-source project on GitHub (orhun/kmon). The project page lists an Installation section and offers ZIP and TAR downloads alongside the GitHub repository, so you can either install it through your distribution's package manager or build it from the source archive. After installation, you launch it from a terminal as kmon; it is a terminal-based tool, so no desktop launcher is required.

Before You Start

  • A Linux system with a terminal and a user account that can install packages (typically via sudo).
  • A package manager matching your distribution (for example, pacman on Arch-based systems, or your distro's equivalent). The project page does not enumerate per-distro commands, so check your distribution's repositories or the project's GitHub README for the exact package name.
  • If you build from source, you need the Rust toolchain, since kmon is a Rust project. The page does not list build prerequisites beyond the source archives, so confirm the current requirements in the repository's README before building.

Installation Options

Method What you do When it fits
Distribution package Install the kmon package with your package manager Fastest path if your distro packages it; updates come through the system
GitHub source Clone or download the repository, then build and install with Cargo When no package exists for your distro, or you want the latest code
ZIP / TAR archive Download the archive from the project page, extract it, then build Same as source, for offline or manual setups

Option 1: Install from Your Distribution's Repositories

  1. Search your package manager for kmon (for example, pacman -Ss kmon on Arch-based systems, or the search command for your distro).
  2. If a package is found, install it with your package manager and confirm the prompt.
  3. Verify the install by running kmon --version (or kmon -V) in a terminal; a version string means the binary is on your PATH.

If the search returns nothing, your distribution does not package kmon — use the source method instead.

Option 2: Build from the GitHub Repository

  1. Install the Rust toolchain if it is not already present (the standard installer is rustup; confirm current instructions on the Rust project site).
  2. Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/orhun/kmon.git, then cd kmon.
  3. Build and install: cargo install --path . (or cargo build --release and run the binary from target/release/).
  4. Verify with kmon --version.

Option 3: Use the ZIP or TAR Download

  1. On the project page, choose Download ZIP File or Download TAR Ball.
  2. Extract the archive, then open a terminal in the extracted directory.
  3. Build and install as in Option 2, steps 3–4.

Launching and Checking It Works

Run kmon in a terminal. The interface opens with kernel information and live activity views; the project page documents a Key Bindings section and a Features section, so use the in-app help (commonly a help key shown in the interface) to see the available shortcuts. If the command is not found after a source install, check that Cargo's binary directory (usually ~/.cargo/bin) is on your PATH.

Common Snags

  • Package not found: your distro likely does not ship kmon; switch to the source method.
  • Build errors: usually a missing or outdated Rust toolchain — update it and rebuild.
  • Permission errors during install: install to your user's Cargo directory rather than system paths, or use sudo only where your distro's instructions require it.
  • Interface looks broken: the tool runs in a terminal; try a standard terminal emulator with a reasonable window size.

The project accepts support through Open Collective (backer and sponsor tiers); the page does not state that payment is required to use kmon.