uLauncher Port Killer Extension

A uLauncher extension that allows you to quickly terminate ports and processes directly from the uLauncher interface.

Features

• 🔍 Port Discovery: Scan and list all active network ports on your system
• 🎯 Process Information: Display port number, protocol (TCP/UDP), process name, and PID
• ⚡ Quick Termination: Kill processes directly from uLauncher
• 🔧 Configurable: Customize keyword, kill method, and system port visibility
• 🚀 Performance Optimized: Smart caching and debouncing for smooth experience

Installation

Manually from source

The extensions' directory is located at: $HOME/.local/share/ulauncher/extensions Go to that location, and while being inside, just git clone this repository.

Ulauncher's GUI

1. Open uLauncher and go to Extensions (or press Ctrl+,)

2. Click "Add extension" and paste this repository URL:

   https://github.com/cosmincraciun97/port-killer-ulauncher
   

3. The extension will be automatically downloaded and installed

4. Make sure psutil is installed (the extension requires it):

   pip install psutil

5. Configure the extension preferences if needed and start using it!

Usage

1. Open uLauncher (default: Ctrl+Space)
2. Type the keyword port (configurable)
3. Browse through active ports and their associated processes
4. Press Enter on a port to immediately terminate the process
5. See success/failure feedback

Search Examples

• port - Show all active ports
• port 80 - Show only port 80
• port nginx - Show ports used by nginx processes
• port tcp - Show only TCP ports

Configuration

Access extension preferences through uLauncher settings:

Keyword

• Default: port
• Description: The keyword to trigger the port killer
• Example: Change to kill or pk for shorter commands

Show System Ports

• Default: No
• Options: Yes / No
• Description: Include system/privileged ports (< 1024) in results

Kill Method

• Default: Graceful (SIGTERM)
• Options:
  • Graceful (SIGTERM) - Allows processes to clean up before terminating
  • Force (SIGKILL) - Immediately terminates processes
• Description: Method used to terminate processes

Technical Details

Dependencies

• psutil: Cross-platform library for system and process monitoring
• Python 3.6+: Required for uLauncher extensions

Port Detection

The extension uses multiple methods for port detection:

1. Primary: psutil.net_connections() for cross-platform compatibility
2. Fallback: System commands (netstat -tulpn) if psutil fails

Performance Features

• Caching: Port information is cached for 2 seconds to improve responsiveness
• Debouncing: 0.5-second query debounce prevents excessive system calls
• Result Limiting: Maximum 15 results to maintain UI performance

Security & Safety

• Permission Handling: Gracefully handles cases where processes cannot be terminated
• Process Validation: Checks if processes exist before attempting termination
• Error Feedback: Clear error messages for failed operations

Troubleshooting

Extension Not Loading

1. Check that psutil is installed: python -c "import psutil"
2. Verify file permissions in the extension directory
3. Check uLauncher logs for error messages

Permission Errors

• Some system processes require elevated privileges to terminate
• The extension will show clear error messages for permission issues
• Consider running processes you want to kill with user permissions

No Ports Showing

1. Verify that processes are actually listening on ports: netstat -tulpn
2. Check if "Show System Ports" setting matches your needs
3. Try different search terms to ensure filtering isn't hiding results

Contributing

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch: git checkout -b feature-name
3. Make your changes and test thoroughly
4. Submit a pull request with a clear description

License

MIT LICENSE

Support

If you encounter issues or have feature requests, please:

1. Check the troubleshooting section above
2. Review uLauncher logs for error details
3. Open an issue with detailed information about your problem

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⚠️ Warning: This extension can terminate system processes. Use with caution and ensure you understand what processes you're killing to avoid system instability.