rtk-ai/rtk

`rtk ps aux <process>` returns empty despite running process

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#1060 opened on Apr 7, 2026

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 (3 comments) (0 reactions) (0 assignees)Rust (48,085 stars) (2,914 forks)batch import
bugeffort-smallfilter-qualitygood first issue

Description

Description

rtk ps aux <process> supposed to mirror ps aux | grep <process> output, but returns nothing even when process active. Example: rtk ps aux chrome while Chrome running, whereas ps aux | grep chrome lists chrome helper processes. Running bare rtk ps aux still shows processes, so regression specific to filtered form.

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Start Chrome (or any process with stable name)
  2. Run rtk ps aux chrome
  3. Verify ps aux | grep chrome shows entries
  4. Observe rtk ps aux chrome exits 0 without listing anything, while rtk ps aux alone lists processes

Expected Behavior

CLI should list matching processes exactly like ps aux | grep chrome when process exists.

Actual Behavior

ps aux | grep chrome shows chrome tasks but rtk ps aux chrome prints nothing and exits successfully even though process active. rtk ps aux without filter continues to show process table normally.

Environment

  • Browser: Chrome (process used in reproduction)
  • OS: Ubuntu 24.04
  • Version: not provided

Screenshots/Logs

N/A

Additional Context

Unfiltered rtk ps aux output remains correct; bug isolated to filtering intended to behave like ps aux | grep <process>.

Contributor guide

Tech stack
rust
Domain
cli
Issue type
bug
DifficultyEstimated implementation difficulty for a new contributor, from 1 for very small changes to 5 for expert-level work.
3
Estimated timeA rough time range for an experienced contributor to investigate, implement, test, and prepare a pull request.
1-3 hours
Activity statusHow available the issue appears right now: fresh, active, stale, blocked, or waiting on maintainer input.
fresh
ClarityHow clearly the issue explains the expected change, acceptance criteria, and next step.
clear
Prerequisites
Rust basicsUnix process listingGit workflow
Newbie friendlinessA 1-100 score estimating how approachable this issue is for first-time contributors.
85
Research direction
Start by locating the source file that implements the `ps aux` command (likely in `src/commands/ps.rs` or `src/util/process.rs`). Compare the unfiltered output path with the filtered one that takes a process name argument. The bug suggests the filter is not correctly matching process names; check if there is a case sensitive comparison issue or if the filter is being applied to the wrong data. Look at any existing tests for this command and run them to understand the expected behavior. Also review the three comments on the issue for any hints from maintainers about the root cause.