speedtest-cli VS GrandPerspective

• Open Source
  Speedtest-cli is open-source, meaning the source code is freely available for anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance.
• Command Line Interface
  Allows users to run internet speed tests from the command line, which can be useful for automation, scripting, and use on headless servers.
• Platform Independent
  Runs on multiple systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it versatile for use across different environments.
• Integration Capabilities
  Can be easily integrated with other applications and monitoring systems for automated performance tracking and reporting.
• No Ads
  Unlike web-based speed test services, speedtest-cli does not display any advertisements, offering a cleaner user experience.

Possible disadvantages

• Requires Terminal Knowledge
  Users need to be familiar with the command line interface, which might be a barrier for those who are accustomed to graphical user interfaces.
• No Graphical Output
  Lacks a visual representation of the speed test results, which can be a disadvantage for users who prefer graphical data.
• Limited Server Selection
  Automated server selection might not always choose the best server for testing, potentially affecting the accuracy of results.
• Dependencies
  Speedtest-cli relies on Python and the 'pip' package manager, which may require additional setup steps for some users.
• Feature Limitations
  Not all features of the web-based Speedtest service (like detailed historical data) are available in the CLI version.

• Visualization
  GrandPerspective provides a visual representation of disk usage, allowing users to easily identify large files and folders at a glance through a treemap display.
• Open Source
  The software is open source, meaning it is free to use and its source code is accessible for modification and improvement by the community.
• User-Friendly
  The interface is simple and intuitive, making it easy for users of all levels of technical expertise to navigate and understand their disk usage.
• Customizable
  Users can customize the treemap view, including color schemes and block sizes, to better suit their preferences and needs.

Possible disadvantages

• Mac-Only
  GrandPerspective is available only for macOS, limiting its usage to Apple users and excluding those on Windows or Linux platforms.
• Basic Features
  While it provides excellent visualization, GrandPerspective lacks advanced features that are available in some paid disk usage analyzers.
• Performance Issues
  The application can struggle with performance when scanning particularly large disks or volumes, leading to longer loading times and potential crashes.
• Occasional Bugs
  As with many open-source projects, users may encounter occasional bugs or glitches that can impact the user experience.

No analysis of GrandPerspective yet.

Testing Internet Bandwidth From The Terminal Using Speedtest-cli

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• DaisyDisk Alternatives: Free Disk Analyzers We've Actually Tested
  dissectmac.com · Feb 2026

  If you've been on Mac for 10+ years, you probably know GrandPerspective. It was the original treemap visualizer, and it's completely free under GPL.

• What is Disk Inventory X and Its Top Alternatives
  www.imymac.com · Feb 2022

  The main drawback of this tool is that it presents a lot of information which can be quite overwhelming to the user. It will not display an overview of your disks which contradicts its name. In summary,...

• What Is WinDirStat and Its Top Mac Alternatives
  www.imymac.com · Jan 2022

  GrandPerspective’s menu/toolbar contains all of the options the app offers. You can configure its settings easily even if you are a newbie Mac user. You just need to choose a folder you want to analyze. The app will...

• CLI Tools every Developer should know

  Or, you can follow the installation instructions on the official GitHub repository: SpeedTest-CLI Installation Guide. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago

• Routing table confusion, or did Kirkland move to Kansas?

  That's a community cli client https://github.com/sivel/speedtest-cli rather than the official cli client https://www.speedtest.net/apps/cli. Source: about 3 years ago

• running script via cron does not provide full output

  If you read the docs for Speedtest-CLI you will see that the program timeouts after 10 seconds. Try using this for default timeout of 1 minute and also redirect errors to the same file. Speedtest-cli --timeout 60 >>... Source: almost 4 years ago

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• Don't let your Mac's storage fill up

  Don't pay $10 for what you can get for free: https://github.com/RobinNaumann/disko, https://grandperspectiv.sourceforge.net/, https://www.derlien.com/, etc… Otherwise, this is good advice. My cousin, who isn't particularly computer... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago

• Anthropic Cowork feature creates 10GB VM bundle on macOS without warning

  I simply run GrandPerspective (GUI app, https://grandperspectiv.sourceforge.net/), or dust (terminal app, https://github.com/bootandy/dust), to give me an idea of what is going on with disk usage. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago

• Anthropic Cowork feature creates 10GB VM bundle on macOS without warning

  I’d recommend GrandPerspective:[1] it’s really good at displaying this sort of thing, has been around for over two decades, and the developer has managed to keep it to <5MB which is perfect when you’re running very low on space. [1]... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago

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