Quick Tip

Master `ps` Output with Custom `awk` Formatting

Challenge: The default output of the ps command can be verbose and difficult to parse when you need specific process information quickly.

The Solution: Utilize the power of awk to filter and format the output of ps for precise process details.

ps aux | awk '{print $1, $2, $11}'

Why it works: This command lists all processes (ps aux) and then pipes the output to awk, which prints only the user (column 1), PID (column 2), and command name (column 11) for each process, creating a clean and focused view.

Pro-Tip: To see only processes owned by a specific user, add a condition to awk: ps aux | awk '$1 == "your_username" {print $1, $2, $11}'

Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 5/13/2026