npl

Terminal network dashboard for Linux Mint. It shows public IPv4/IPv6 details, separate physical and VPN usage for 24/48 hours and 7/30 days, live throughput, an on-demand speed test, and local network information.

Requirements

• Python 3.14
• Textual 8.2.7
• vnstat, ip, nmcli, iw, curl, ping

One-line install

Run as your normal user, not with sudo:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/touficmamdouh/npl/main/install.sh | bash

The installer adds any missing system packages, enables vnstat, creates a private virtual environment for Textual, and links the command as /usr/local/bin/npl.

Manual install

Install the Python dependency if it is missing:

python3 -m pip install --user -r requirements.txt

Install the command launcher:

mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
ln -sfn "$PWD/bin/npl" ~/.local/bin/npl

Run

npl
npl --once
npl --json
npl --speedtest
npl --interface wlp3s0

Interactive keys:

• q quit
• r refresh IP, usage, and local data
• t speed test, confirmed by pressing t again
• i switch live throughput between physical and VPN interfaces
• p pause or resume live throughput
• ? show help

Configuration

Copy npl.toml.example to ~/.config/npl/config.toml and edit it. A monthly_budget_gb of 0 disables the budget bar. The speed-test defaults consume about 12 MB per run.

Data Sources

• vnstat --json supplies 24/48-hour and 7/30-day usage.
• /proc/net/dev supplies live throughput.
• ipinfo.io supplies public IP metadata.
• Cloudflare speed endpoints supply the on-demand speed test.
• ip, nmcli, iw, and ping supply local network details.

Physical and VPN usage are always separate and never added together. The monthly budget uses the physical interface because it best matches the provider quota.

When ICMP is unavailable, latency falls back to TCP connection time for the gateway (:53) and 1.1.1.1 (:443), so the tool does not need root.

Privacy and Safety

NPL requires no root privileges, starts no daemon, and opens no listening port. It has no telemetry. It contacts only ipinfo.io, Cloudflare's speed-test endpoints, and the configured gateway/1.1.1.1 for latency.

Limitations

• With a VPN active, public ISP and location describe the VPN exit node.
• Physical usage includes VPN overhead and some LAN traffic.
• vnstat history may be shorter than 30 days.
• A speed test consumes about 12 MB.
• Speed-test rates are reported in Mbit/s.
• Cloudflare's speed-test endpoints may be blocked on some networks.
• IPv6 is shown as N/A when the machine has no global IPv6 route.

Verify

npl --once
npl --json | python3 -m json.tool >/dev/null