Task Manager (taskmgr.py)

A simple cross-platform Python script to list running processes with memory usage, optional Windows session lookup, and interactive sorting.

Features

• Lists processes with PID, session name (Windows, optional), memory usage, and state.
• Sort by memory (default), PID, or name.
• Interactive prompt to choose ascending/descending order when run in a terminal.
• CLI flags to control sorting, order, and limit output.

Requirements

• Python 3.8+ (tested with Python 3.11/3.13)
• Python packages (see requirements.txt):
  • psutil
  • tabulate
  • pywin32 (optional, Windows only, for session/username lookup)

Installation (recommended)

Open PowerShell in the project folder (where taskmgr.py and requirements.txt live).

1. Create and activate a virtual environment

python -m venv .venv
.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

If activation is blocked by policy, run:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

2. Upgrade pip and install requirements

python -m pip install --upgrade pip
pip install -r .\requirements.txt

Quick usage

Run the script (interactive prompt appears if in a terminal):

python taskmgr.py

Command-line options

• --sort {memory,pid,name} — Field to sort by (default: memory)
• --order {asc,desc} — Explicit sort order (overrides interactive choice)
• --reverse — Reverse sort order (alias)
• --no-prompt — Don't prompt interactively; use defaults or provided flags
• --top N — Show only the top N entries after sorting

Examples

• Default (interactive prompt for asc/desc):

python taskmgr.py

• Non-interactive, ascending by memory (default):

python taskmgr.py --no-prompt

• Show top 5 by memory descending:

python taskmgr.py --order desc --top 5 --no-prompt

• Sort by PID ascending:

python taskmgr.py --sort pid --no-prompt

Notes

• On Windows, installing pywin32 enables session/username lookups. If not present the script will display N/A for session names.
• Running pipx install --editable . will fail without a pyproject.toml or setup.py. Use the virtualenv approach above instead.

Troubleshooting

• Activate.ps1 cannot be loaded → run PowerShell as Administrator or run Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser.
• Permission denied installing packages → use a virtualenv or run PowerShell as Administrator.
• If pip installs to a different Python, run python -m pip install ... to ensure packages are installed for the same interpreter you run the script with.

Contributing / Improvements

• Add CPU usage column and sorting by CPU
• Add filtering options (by name, state)
• Add a packaged CLI with pyproject.toml for pipx installation

---

If you'd like, I can:

• Run the installation commands in your terminal now
• Add a pyproject.toml so pipx install --editable . works
• Add CPU usage or owner username columns

Tell me which and I will proceed.