COMPARISON.md

Project Comparison

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Performance and Benchmarks
• Features
• Public Response

Introduction

This document provides a comparative analysis of Astra Monitor against similar projects within our domain. Our primary aim with this comparison is twofold. Firstly, it serves as a critical tool for our project's ongoing development, helping us identify areas of improvement and opportunity to refine and enhance our offering. Secondly, it acts as a guide for users, offering greater insights and assisting them in making an informed decision when choosing the ideal tool for their needs. By highlighting the unique features, performance benchmarks, and key differences between Astra Monitor and its alternatives, we hope to foster a transparent and informative environment for both our development team and the user community at large.

Performance and Benchmarks

Methodology

We have conducted a series of performance tests to compare Astra Monitor with other popular monitoring tools. The tests were conducted with the with the help of a custom script made by us that (available here), in an isolated fresh system with GNOME 45, measure the CPU and memory usage of the extensions for a period of 60 seconds, repeating the test 10 times. Since not all extensions have the same capabilities, we have tested our extension in single head-to-head tests with each of the other extensions, enabling only the features that are present in both extensions, trying to enable as many features as possible.

For cpu performance, we measured a baseline of the CPU usage of the GNOME Shell process with no extensions enabled, and then we measured the CPU usage of the GNOME Shell process with each extension enabled.

For memory performance, we measured the memory usage of the GNOME Shell process with no extensions enabled, and then we measured the memory usage of the GNOME Shell process with each extension enabled for 5 minute and then disabled looping this 3 times.

Results

The results of the tests are shown in the table below. The values are the average of the 10 tests.

Astra Monitor vs Vitals:

Configuration: Both extensions have Cpu perc usage, Memory perc, used value and free, Disk used value and free, Network IO values, Sensor temps values for cpu and gpu. Update frequency is the same on both extensions.

	CPU				Memory
Extension	Avg	StdDev	Min	Max	Total
Astra Monitor v15 [EGOv24]	868 🏆	32.18	780	962	1696
Vitals [EGOv66]	1461	37.26	1400	1550	2432

* Value missing; I have already collected this data but I'm currently abroad. Details will be updated upon return.
The lower the values, the better the performance.

Astra Monitor vs TopHat:

Configuration: Both extensions have Cpu perc usage and bar, Memory perc usage and bar, Disk bar and IO values, Network IO values. Update frequency is the same on both extensions.

	CPU				Memory
Extension	Avg	StdDev	Min	Max	Total
Astra Monitor v15 [EGOv24]	409 🏆	13.00	390	430	2720
TopHat [EGOv13]	702	100.97	640	1000	74508

The lower the values, the better the performance.

Astra Monitor vs system-monitor-next:

Configuration: Both extensions have Cpu perc usage and graph, Memory perc usage and graph, Disk IO values and graph, Network IO values and graph, Sensor temps value for cpu and gpu fan speed value. Update frequency is the same on both extensions.

	CPU				Memory
Extension	Avg	StdDev	Min	Max	Total
Astra Monitor v15 [EGOv24]	546 🏆	35.27	490	600	1336
system-monitor-next [EGOv65]	762	16.00	730	790	1312

The lower the values, the better the performance.

Considerations

The aim of these tests is to provide a general idea of the performance of the extensions. The idea came out to compare the performance of Astra Monitor directly with itself during each development iteration to see if the performance was improving or not and that were no regressions. We would like to emphasize that this is not a competition and the intent is not to discredit any other extension. We are aware that the performance of an extension can vary depending on the system and the hardware, and it's not the only factor to consider when choosing an extension. Memory test's main goal is to check if memory grows over time or retain data between enabling and disabling the extension multiple times.

Features

Legend

• ✅: Feature is present
• ⚠️: Feature is partially present
• ❌: Feature is not present
• 🚧: Feature is in development
• ❓: Feature status is unknown

FEATURE COMPARISON TABLE IS ONLY PARTIALLY COMPLETE.
PLEASE BEAR WITH US AS WE CONTINUE TO UPDATE IT.

General	Category	Feature	Astra Monitor v15 [EGOv24]	Vitals [EGOv66]	TopHat [EGOv13]	system-monitor-next [EGOv65]
	Generic	Dependency	✅ No required dependency (GTop suggested)	⚠️ GTop (required) ls_sensors	⚠️ GTop (required)	⚠️ GTop (required)
		Startup Delay	✅	❌	❌	❌
	Panel Box	Positioning	✅	✅	✅	❌
		Ordering	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Styling	⚠️ Only L&R margins	❌	❌	⚠️ Background color
	Monitor Headers	Ordering	✅	⚠️ Manually remove/readd all monitors	❌	✅
		Styling	⚠️ Only Height and vertical margin	⚠️ Fixed/variable width	❌	⚠️ Compact display
		Font	✅ Family & size	❌	❌	❌
	Configuration	Export	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Import	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Reset	✅	❌	❌	❌
CPU
	Generic	Update Frequency	✅	⚠️ Global	⚠️ Only 3 Global options	✅
		Data Source Selection	✅	❌	❌	❌
	Indicators	Order	✅	⚠️ Manually remove/readd all indicators	❌	❌
	Icon	Custom Icon	✅	⚠️ Global 2 options	❌	❌
		Custom Color	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Color Alert	✅	❌	❌	❌
	Usage	Percentage	✅	✅	✅	✅
		Single Core	✅	✅	✅	✅
		Alert	✅	❌	❌	❌
	History Graph	Header	✅	❌	❌	✅
		Breakdown	✅	❌	❌	✅
		Color Customizaiton	✅	❌	✅	✅
		Size Customizaiton	✅	❌	❌	✅
	Realtime Bar	Header	✅	❌	✅	❌
		Single Core	✅	❌	✅	❌
		Breakdown	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Color Customizaiton	✅	❌	✅	❌
	Tooltip	Percentage	✅	❌	❌	✅
		Single Core	✅	❌	❌	❌
GPU
	Support	Nvidia	✅	✅	❌	❓
		AMD	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Intel	❌	❌	❌	❌
	Menu	Usage Percentage	✅	✅	❌	❓
		Usage Bar	✅	❌	❌	❓
		History Graph	❌	❌	❌	❓
		Memory Percentage	✅	✅	❌	❓
		Memory Bar	✅	❌	❌	❓
	Header	Usage Percentage	❌	✅	❌	❓
		Usage Bar	❌	❌	❌	❓
		History Graph	❌	❌	❌	❓
		Memory Percentage	❌	✅	❌	❓
		Memory Bar	❌	❌	❌	❓
Memory
	Generic	Update Frequency	✅	⚠️ Global	⚠️ Only 3 Global options	✅
		Data Unit Customization	✅ 7 choices	❌	❌	❌
		Used Formula Customization	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Data Source Selection	✅	❌	❌	❌
	Indicators	Order	✅	⚠️ Manually remove/readd all indicators	❌	❌
	Icon	Custom Icon	✅	⚠️ Global 2 options	❌	❌
		Custom Color	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Color Alert	✅	❌	❌	❌
	Usage	Percentage	✅	✅	✅	✅
		Percentage Alert	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Value	✅	✅	❌	❌
		Free	✅	✅	❌	❌
		Free Alert	✅	❌	❌	❌
	History Graph	Header	✅	❌	❌	✅
		Breakdown	✅	❌	❌	✅
		Color Customizaiton	✅	❌	✅	✅
		Size Customizaiton	✅	❌	❌	✅
	Realtime Bar	Header	✅	❌	✅	❌
		Breakdown	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Color Customizaiton	✅	❌	✅	❌
	Tooltip	Percentage	✅	❌	❌	✅
		Value	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Free	✅	❌	❌	❌
	Swap	Value	⚠️ Menu only	✅	⚠️ Menu only	✅
		Bar	⚠️ Menu only	❌	❌	❌
Storage
	Generic	Update Frequency	✅	⚠️ Global	⚠️ Only 3 Global options	✅
		Data Unit Customization	✅ 11 choices	❌	❌	❌
		Main Disk Selection	✅	✅	⚠️ Only 3 fixed choices	❌
		Ignored disks	✅ Selection & regex	❌	❌	❌
		Data Source Selection	✅	❌	❌	❌
	Indicators	Order	✅	⚠️ Manually remove/readd all indicators	❌	❌
	Icon	Custom Icon	✅	⚠️ Global 2 options	❌	❌
		Custom Color	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Color Alert	✅	❌	❌	❌
	Usage	Header Bar	✅	❌	✅	❌
		Percentage	✅	❌	✅	❌
		Percentage Alert	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Value	✅	✅	❌	❌
		Free	✅	✅	❌	❌
		Free Alert	✅	❌	❌	❌
	IO	Bar	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Values	✅	✅	✅	✅
		Threshold	✅	❌	❌	❌
		History Graph	✅	❌	❌	✅
		Custom Colors	✅	❌	❌	✅
		Custom Graph Width	✅	❌	❌	✅
	Tooltip	Percentage	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Value	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Free	✅	❌	❌	❌
		IO	✅	❌	❌	✅
Network
	Generic	Update Frequency	✅	⚠️ Global	⚠️ Only 3 Global options	✅
		Data Unit Customization	✅ 7 choices	✅ 2 choices	✅ 2 choices	✅ 2 choices
		Ignored interfaces	✅ Selection & regex	❌	❌	❌
		Data Source Selection	✅	❌	❌	❌
	Indicators	Order	✅	⚠️ Manually remove/readd all indicators	❌	❌
	Icon	Custom Icon	✅	⚠️ Global 2 options	❌	❌
		Custom Color	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Color Alert	✅	❌	❌	❌
	IO	Bar	✅	❌	✅	❌
		Values	✅	✅	✅	✅
		Threshold	✅	❌	❌	❌
		History Graph	✅	❌	❌	✅
		Custom Colors	✅	❌	❌	✅
		Custom Graph Width	✅	❌	❌	✅
	Public IP	IPv4	✅	✅	❌	❌
		IPv6	✅	❌	❌	❌
	Tooltip	IO	✅	❌	❌	✅
Sensors
	Generic	Update Frequency	✅	⚠️ Global	❌	✅
		Temperature Unit Customization	✅	✅	❌	✅
		Data Source Selection	✅	❌	❌	❌
	Indicators	Order	✅	⚠️ Manually remove/readd all indicators	❌	⚠️ Swap temp with fan
	Icon	Custom Icon	✅	⚠️ Global 2 options	❌	❌
		Custom Color	✅	❌	❌	❌
		Color Alert	✅	❌	❌	❌
	Tooltip	Customization	✅	❌	❌	❌
Battery
	Generic	Update Frequency	❌	⚠️ Global	❌	✅
	Indicators	Order	❌	⚠️ Manually remove/readd all indicators	❌	❌
	Icon	Custom Icon	❌	⚠️ Global 2 options	❌	❌
		Custom Color	❌	❌	❌	❌
		Color Alert	❌	❌	❌	❌
	Header	Bar	❌	❌	❌	❌
		Percentage	❌	✅	❌	✅
		History Graph	❌	❌	❌	✅
		Custom Colors	❌	❌	❌	✅
		Custom Graph Width	❌	❌	❌	✅

Note: The tables above might not be up to date or accurate. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please refer to the respective extension's documentation. If you find any inaccuracies, please let us know.

Public Response

Thank you all for the amazing support and feedback. We have been the most downloaded extensions on the GNOME Shell Extensions website among the extensions released in the last year, and we are very grateful for that (as of March 2024). We also received a lot of stars on GitHub compared to similar projects, and we are very happy to see that our work is being appreciated. We hope to continue to improve and provide a better experience for all of you.

Star History