How To Find A Process That’s Listening Git Bash

When working in Git Bash, it’s important to have a good understanding of the processes that are running and listening on specific ports. This knowledge can be crucial when you encounter issues related to port conflicts or when you need to identify which processes are using specific ports. Being a developer, I’ve encountered these scenarios multiple times, and I’ve found some reliable methods to find processes that are listening in Git Bash.

Using Netstat Command

One of the most common ways to find a process that’s listening in Git Bash is by using the netstat command. This command provides information about the network connections, routing tables, and a number of network interface statistics. To find the process listening on a specific port, you can use the following command:

netstat -ano | find "LISTEN"

This command will display a list of all listening processes along with their process IDs (PID). You can then use the PID to identify the process in the Task Manager.

Using lsof Command

Another useful command for finding processes listening on a specific port is the lsof command. This command is not native to Git Bash, but you can install it using a package manager like Cygwin. Once installed, you can use the following command to find the process listening on a specific port:

lsof -i :

Replace with the actual port number you want to investigate. This command will provide detailed information about the processes using the specified port, including the process ID, user, and the command associated with the process.

Using Tasklist Command

If you prefer using native Windows commands within Git Bash, you can utilize the tasklist command to find the process ID associated with a specific port. First, you need to determine the PID from the netstat command and then use the following command to find detailed information about the process:

tasklist /FI "PID eq "

Replace with the actual process ID obtained from the netstat command. This will display information about the process, including the image name, PID, session name, and memory usage.

Conclusion

Understanding how to find processes that are listening in Git Bash is an essential skill for any developer. Whether it’s troubleshooting port conflicts or simply identifying which processes are using specific ports, these commands can be invaluable. By using commands such as netstat, lsof, and tasklist, you can gain insights into the processes running on your system and effectively manage your network resources.