Fkill - Command-Line Process Killer
Fkill is a powerful command-line utility designed to help developers and system administrators quickly and efficiently terminate running processes. It offers a flexible way to kill processes based on their Process ID (PID), name, or the network port they are listening on. This makes it an indispensable tool for managing your system's resources and resolving issues caused by unresponsive applications.
Kill Processes by PID
The most direct way to terminate a process is by using its unique Process ID (PID). Fkill allows you to specify the PID as an argument, ensuring that only the intended process is affected.
# To kill a process by pid
fkill 1337
Kill Processes by Name
For convenience, Fkill supports killing processes by their name. This feature is case-insensitive, making it easier to target applications without needing to know their exact capitalization. This is particularly useful when dealing with common applications like web browsers or development servers.
# To kill processes by name (case insensitive)
fkill safari
Kill Processes by Port
When an application is occupying a specific network port, Fkill can identify and terminate the process associated with that port. This is invaluable for freeing up ports that are in use by old or stuck processes, allowing new applications to start correctly.
# To kill a process listening on a port
fkill :8080
Interactive Mode
Beyond direct command-line arguments, Fkill provides an interactive interface. Simply running the command without any arguments launches this mode, offering a user-friendly way to list and select processes to terminate. This is ideal for exploring running processes and making informed decisions about which ones to stop.
# To run the interactive interface
fkill
Why Use Fkill?
Fkill simplifies process management, especially in development environments where applications might crash or become unresponsive. It provides a quick and reliable alternative to more complex system tools. Its intuitive design and multiple targeting options make it a go-to utility for developers using Node.js and other command-line tools.