Linux System Monitor – Stacer

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I recently upgraded my 12 year old HP 6540b ProBook laptop that had a 250 GB SSD running Linux Mint 19.2 Cinnamon with 4 GB RAM to a new 500 GB SSD and Linux Mint 20.3 Cinnamon still with 4 GB RAM. LM 20.3 is a pleasure to use and I just now found a nice System Monitor utility named Stacer. It is available from the Software Manager, just search at the top right Search box in the Software Manager for stacer and double click on the result for information. The official GitHub author site shows version 1.1.0 from 13 May 2019 is the latest version. This GitHub site shows 16 Screenshot pictures that truly introduce how much this program can do. It has multiple vertical tabs with lots of “stuff”. Check out the pictures, and consider the Review and YouTube links below:

https://github.com/oguzhaninan/Stacer/

I found an older Review dated April 23, 2021 from the Make Use Of website titled “Optimize and Monitor Your Linux System’s Performance With Stacer” that explains some of the program functions: “Want a better experience by enhancing the performance of a Linux machine? Here’s everything you need to know about Stacer.” By Nitin Ranganath:

https://www.makeuseof.com/linux-optimization-stacer/

Also, a January 3, 2020 – 6:42 minute YouTube video titled “Stacer – The Ultimate Linux System Optimizer and Monitor” by Chris Titus Tech is interesting and informative. 216 comments, one of the comments mentions: “It combines a lot of Linux utilities into one program, Nice !” and “Nice little app. I’d push this towards new users coming to Linux. A GUI app for getting used to the concepts of systemd can only be a good thing. Nice one Chris. I’ll stick in my camp of being cautious using system cleaners in Linux though.” = Yes, be sure to check/uncheck cleaners BEFORE using!
GUI = Graphical User Interface, like Windows, not Terminal command line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHcuqCzAhWM

I am still experimenting and playing with this comprehensive utility / tool for my Linux Mint 20.3 installation, and so far I am very impressed. I recommend that Linux users give this program an investigation and some consideration as a “Keeper” program for their Linux computer. Check and see if it is available in your Software Manager, because that is the easiest way to install without using Terminal command line instructions, like those shown at the ‘Make Use Of’ website. Just sharing information for this ‘new to me’ Linux Applications Forum, that maybe was recently created by Susan Bradley when she was weeding the garden and reorganizing the website Forums (?) Maybe some people might find this App useful, or at least a little fun to play with. (For those of us that like to install, experiment, and then uninstall some of the 30,000 apps available.)

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Cybertooth, Microfix, Ascaris, Charlie, DrBonzo

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This looks great!  Is it relatively safe for Linux Mint novices like me?

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Lars220

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I am a Linux Mint novice also, and I think it is “relatively” safe, which is subjective I suppose, I do not use the “Cleaner” only open the folder to look and see what it wants to clean, one reason that I got a bigger storage drive is so that I do not have to Clean / Delete items that I am not sure about. Also, I do not use this Stacer app for un-installing anything, only to “PLAY” with, because I do not know the Terminal language and prefer GUI. Try it out and just be careful what you click on, like all things computer … (?) – I suppose klaang and microfix are expert Linux users with much Terminal experience which is great for some and not others.

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Microfix, Charlie

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@Lars220, not so much of the ‘expert’ please it’s more habit from my beginning with linux distros.
What I’ve learned is accrued in my notes which is a Copy&Paste to the CLI then theres the use of && for multiple commands in one input.

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Lars220

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I don’t share your enthusiasm for Stacer. There’s nothing “wrong” with it, but it’s unnecessary and unneeded. If you like it, great, but it’s not a program that I would use or recommend. Just my 2 cents.

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Lars220, Microfix

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Command Line Interface FTW!

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I don’t plan to use the cleaning features (as I didn’t in Windows when I used that), but there are two things that look quite interesting. First, the APT repository manager with an actual search box, which has been something I have long thought was sorely lacking in the various utilities that are part of various package or software managers (KDE Discover, Muon, Synaptic), and a graphical service manager, hopefully with functionality similar to what services.msc offered in Windows-land (and presumably still does).

Sure, I can use the command line tools for managing services/daemons, and I have been doing just that since I started using Linux, but it’s not 1990 anymore (when I was a stalwart MS-DOS user who thought that real work was done on the command line and that GUIs [Windows 3.0, at that time] were just resource-intensive, slow things that got in your way more than they helped). I’ve changed my mind on that issue, to say the least! Using the command line is not my first preference when it comes to doing just about anything anymore, though I have no difficulty doing so if there’s no other option. I have the terminal icon in my quick launch menu for easy use, and I also have the terminal panel enabled in Dolphin (the KDE file manager), but I will preferentially use graphical tools if I have them.

Dell XPS 13/9310, i5-1135G7/16GB, KDE Neon 6.2
XPG Xenia 15, i7-9750H/32GB & GTX1660ti, Kubuntu 24.04
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Cybertooth, Lars220, steeviebops

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Understand, but I prefer the command line.

 

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Microfix

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Well, if anyone is still following this Topic, which is basically about a Graphical User Interface = GUI Linux Application – Stacer, which seems that it is capable of working across various Linux Distributions, including the popular Linux Mint that a lot of us Windows refugees are trying to learn and become comfortable with. It might be obvious to some observers here that the Terminal Command Line Interface can seem intimidating to new arrivals in the Linux universe. My guess is that most new arrivals to Linux prefer the GUI that is similar to Microsoft Windows. I do think it is a good idea to try and learn a little about the Terminal CLI – Command Line Interface, because I have heard that some things are better done in the Terminal. So, even if it gives me a headache to learn new stuff, I offer the following for the Education of all of us:

The Linux command line for beginners, – a tutorial from ubuntu;

“The Linux command line is a text interface to your computer. Often referred to as the shell, terminal, console, prompt or various other names, it can give the appearance of being complex and confusing to use. This tutorial will teach you a little of the history of the command line, then walk you through some practical exercises to become familiar with a few basic commands and concepts.”

https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/command-line-for-beginners#1-overview

An Introduction to the Linux Terminal – Tutorial Series: Getting Started with Linux, By Mitchell Anicas – Developer and author at DigitalOcean.

“This tutorial, which is the first in a series that teaches Linux basics to get new users on their feet, covers getting started with the terminal, the Linux command line, and executing commands. If you are new to Linux, you will want to familiarize yourself with the terminal, as it is the standard way to interact with a Linux server. Using the command line may seem like a daunting task but it is actually very easy if you start with the basics, and build your skills from there.”

https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/an-introduction-to-the-linux-terminal

A favorite YouTube channel of mine; ExplainingComputers, has a 21:39 minute video titled ‘Linux Terminal Introduction’ and is easy going:
“Linux terminal tutorial, aimed at those migrating from Windows,…”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkB-eRCzWIU

Some of these links might be worth Bookmarking in browser favorites.
I am still going to explore the multitude of GUI Linux Apps in my Linux Mint 20.3 Software Manager because I think they are easier. Cheers.

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Cybertooth, DrBonzo

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Way back (waay, waaay back) before Windows was created, I cut my teeth on PC-DOS 1.x and 2.x, then when IBM PC compatibles started coming out, it was MS-DOS 2.x and 3.x.

When Windows first came out, I disdained the GUI and would even look down on those Mac-heads who lived in the graphical interface, as if they were some sort of inferior, less-intelligent creatures who couldn’t hack the command line.

However, this view changed radically as computers continued to grow in their complexity and text commands became correspondingly both more numerous and more arcane.

For me, the CLI was fine up until a certain point, after which computers simply got too complex and using the command line required ever more frequent visits to manuals and Help files. Using DOS commands stopped providing a sense of mastery and instead became a source of unceasing frustration and tedium.

Today I vastly prefer the GUI and try to limit my exposure to the Linux or Windows CLI as much as I possibly can. From a usability perspective, there’s just no comparison to seeing all the options displayed right in front of you (or at least within easy reach with a few clicks). The GUI is simply so much more informative.

There are a few things that I still do on the command line, but in general it’s more akin to taking a laxative than to sitting down for a plate of General Tso’s Chicken.

 

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Lars220

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I have Linux Mint 19.1 and I used the Software Manager to see if I could find Stacer there.  I used the Search and it said that it couldn’t find that program.  I updated the cache of Software Manager and checked again, still nothing.  Apparently I need to go to a higher Mint version.

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I’m not finding it either, on Mint 19.2 Cinnamon.

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I wonder if updating the Software Sources and then updating Linux Mint would help. Menu > Administation > Software Sources > click on the two boxes with url and wait while it searchs for fastest local source, choose one that is close to you, you have to click Apply to take effect, do it for both Main and Base, then do manual Update Manager Refresh and get available updates, Then re-try the Software Manager search for Stacer, if not found, then maybe it is just not available in older versions (?)  I only learned about Stacer with LM 20.3 so I never ran into problems.
I found this website with some information that might help:

How to Install and Use Stacer on Linux Mint

“There are a handful of ways to install Stacer. It’s available directly as a DEB package. There’s also a dedicated PPA for Stacer. Stacer is also available as an AppImage.
We’ll be checking out all of them.”

Using the Terminal is one option, thankfully this website shows pictures and explanation which should make the Terminator easier, maybe. I still disagree about Terminal use, point and click GUI is so much easier as Acaris and Cybertooth say, thank you guys

https://linuxhint.com/install_stacer_linux_mint/

Also, it might be a good idea to upgrade / update to Linux Mint 20.3 because version 19 is sorta getting old. The point 3 may be the last for version 20?

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Cybertooth, DrBonzo

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Just installed Stacer on my Kubuntu 20.04 LTS system. The process couldn’t have been easier: searching for it on Discover (a built-in, store-like application for KDE) found it no problem, and all I had to do was to click on the Install button.

Pretty cool utility. You can use it not only to monitor your system, but also to clean it up, add or remove startup applications, pause or start services, uninstall programs, manage repositories, and even edit the Hosts file.

@Lars220, thanks for telling us about this program!

 

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Lars220

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If Stacer is not found in your Software Manager, you can still install using the GUI (not Terminal) by downloading the stacer_1.1.0_amd64.deb package from the authors website.
This link below starts download, – Save it in your Linux Downloads folder:

https://github.com/oguzhaninan/Stacer/releases/download/v1.1.0/stacer_1.1.0_amd64.deb

Once it is downloaded, find it in your default download location, usually the Downloads folder, but some people change that to the Desktop, once located, simply Double-Click the stacer_1.1.0_amd64.deb file, and Linux Mint should ask you if you want to install it, click the install button. Find the program in LM Start Menu I think in Accessories, maybe not, I just start typing stac in the top Search bar and it shows up after installed.
Note: it won’t work in Windows, make it easy on yourself and download using Linux
For more information, here are two nice links just for education:
https://www.fosslinux.com/41461/how-to-install-deb-packages-on-ubuntu-linux-mint.htm

https://itsfoss.com/install-deb-files-ubuntu/

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Cybertooth, DrBonzo

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I want GPU monitoring on Linux in a GUI based format along with the CPU and Disk and I also want a way to put off that mlocate background task that fires up a few min after startup and sometimes interferes whit Updates on Linux Mint Cinnamon. So some nice GUI based method to look at and edit scheduled tasks like that mlocate daily task.

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I like Stacer on Ubuntu.  It’s like a Swiss Army knife for Linux. It comes in handy when other tools don’t work.

 

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