How to build a system monitor using Python 3, CustomTkinter, psutil

Build Pulsebay, a desktop system monitor with CPU/memory charts-lite, process list, and packaging notes with Python 3, CustomTkinter, psutil.

  • Difficulty Intermediate
  • Parts 12
  • Stack Python 3, CustomTkinter, psutil

What you are building

Pulsebay is a system monitor you assemble in twelve short stages. The teaching stack is CustomTkinter (Python 3, CustomTkinter, psutil). By the end you should understand the shell, the data you persist, and the everyday workflows people expect from this kind of app.

CustomTkinter modernizes Tkinter widgets. Pair it with psutil to teach live metrics without a heavyweight GUI stack.

Tabs for CPU, memory, and processes keep the UI readable. Poll on a timer—never block the main thread on long scans.

Work in order. Early folders are intentionally small so you can see the window (or server) boot before features pile on. From the data-layer part onward, each snapshot should still run after you install dependencies.

How to use these lessons

Read the goal, clone the matching GitHub folder, run it, then skim the code against the notes below. If something fails, fix the run path first—most “bugs” on day one are the wrong directory or a skipped install.

Open the Pulsebay GitHub repo →

Parts in order

Each chapter below is one checkpoint. Open a part when you are ready for that feature—not all at once.