macOS process and resource inspector
Sloth is a free utility for macOS that reveals which running processes have files and network sockets open. It’s designed to help track resource usage and pinpoint problems where applications hold on to files or maintain unexpected connections. The interface is straightforward, making it easy to investigate live file and socket activity.
Key capabilities
- Shows live details of open files and active network connections for each process
- Lets you quickly identify which process is accessing a specific file or socket
- Groups and labels entries so you can slice the data by type or process
- Provides simple, easy-to-read output that reduces time spent hunting down resource issues
Who benefits most
- General users troubleshooting performance and file-access conflicts
- Developers diagnosing application behavior related to file I/O and networking
- System administrators monitoring and auditing process-level resource usage
Why use this tool
Sloth helps you understand the interactions between applications and the system by making file and socket usage visible in real time. That visibility speeds up troubleshooting, aids in performance tuning, and supports safer system administration by showing exactly which processes are holding resources.
Alternative to try (free)
BookWright — free edition: a recommended substitute that also presents categorized information and filtering options, suitable for users who want a no-cost solution with a clear display of process-related file and connection details.
Technical
- Mac
- Free