ps-list provides a simple and efficient way to list all running processes on a system. It returns an array of process objects with information such as PID, name, CPU, and memory usage. The library is lightweight and has minimal dependencies, making it fast and reliable for retrieving process information.

ps-node also allows listing processes, but it is more focused on providing additional functionality for managing processes. It can list processes by name or PID and provides methods for killing processes. The library is more feature-rich but may have a slightly larger footprint compared to ps-list.

ps-tree does not provide a standalone process listing feature but focuses on retrieving the process tree for a given PID. It returns the parent-child relationships between processes, which can be useful for understanding the hierarchy and managing related processes.

ps-list is primarily designed for listing processes and does not provide built-in functionality for managing or controlling processes. It is best used for monitoring and retrieving process information.

ps-node provides more comprehensive process management features, including the ability to kill processes by name or PID. It is designed for applications that need to interact with and control processes programmatically.

ps-tree focuses on managing process hierarchies by providing tools to retrieve and manipulate the process tree. It is particularly useful for ensuring that all child processes are handled appropriately when managing parent processes.

ps-list does not provide functionality for retrieving process trees or parent-child relationships. It focuses on providing a flat list of all running processes.

ps-node does not have built-in support for process trees but allows for basic process management and control. It can be used in conjunction with other libraries to manage process hierarchies.

ps-tree specializes in retrieving the process tree for a given PID, providing detailed information about parent and child processes. This is useful for applications that need to manage process hierarchies and ensure that all related processes are handled correctly.

ps-list is designed to work across multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. It uses platform-specific commands to retrieve process information, ensuring compatibility across different operating systems.

ps-node also supports cross-platform process management, allowing developers to interact with processes on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It provides a consistent API for managing processes across different platforms.

ps-tree is cross-platform and works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It uses platform-specific methods to retrieve the process tree, ensuring that it can provide accurate parent-child process information regardless of the operating system.

Listing processes with ps-list

const psList = require('ps-list');

(async () => {
  const processes = await psList();
  console.log(processes);
})();

Managing processes with ps-node

const ps = require('ps-node');

// List all processes
ps.lookup({}, (err, resultList) => {
  if (err) throw err;
  console.log(resultList);
});

// Kill a process by PID
ps.kill(12345, (err) => {
  if (err) {
    console.log('Failed to kill process:', err);
  } else {
    console.log('Process killed successfully');
  }
});

Retrieving process tree with ps-tree

const psTree = require('ps-tree');
const pid = 12345; // Parent process ID

psTree(pid, (err, children) => {
  if (err) throw err;
  console.log('Child processes:', children);
});