MangoHud
MangoHud is a free, open-source overlay for Linux that displays real-time performance metrics (FPS, GPU/CPU load, temperatures) on top of Vulkan and OpenGL applications. It's actively maintained, widely packaged across major distributions, and used primarily by gamers and performance engineers for in-game monitoring.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | flightlessmango/MangoHud |
| Owner | flightlessmango |
| Primary language | C |
| License | MIT — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 8.8k |
| Forks | 408 |
| Open issues | 306 |
| Latest release | v0.8.4 (2026-05-27) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-04 |
| Source | https://github.com/flightlessmango/MangoHud |
What MangoHud is
A C-based Vulkan/OpenGL layer that injects performance telemetry via environment variable configuration (MANGOHUD_CONFIG, MANGOHUD_CONFIGFILE). Supports NVIDIA (via NVML/XNVCtrl), AMD, and Intel GPUs; configurable via YAML presets; includes logging, visualization tools (mangoplot), and optional D-Bus/media integration.
Get the MangoHud source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/flightlessmango/MangoHud.gitcd MangoHud# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Requires compilation with meson/ninja and ~20+ development dependencies (libvulkan, libGL, libdrm, yaml-cpp, etc.); build.sh automates for major distros but may fail on non-standard or minimal systems.
- Configuration via environment variables (MANGOHUD=1, MANGOHUD_CONFIG) or YAML presets; users must understand LD_PRELOAD or Vulkan layer injection mechanics for reliable activation.
- GPU metrics availability varies by vendor/driver: NVIDIA requires NVML (Wayland) or XNVCtrl (X11/older hardware); AMD/Intel support less mature. Intel Arc/Xe may require recent kernel/driver versions.
- 32-bit application support (lib32-mangohud) requires separate compilation and multilib setup; not all distros provide packaged 32-bit binaries.
- Flatpak deployment requires per-app override (flatpak override --user --env=MANGOHUD=1 <appid>) due to sandbox constraints.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Windows/macOS Requirement — MangoHud is Linux-only. No native Windows or macOS support; porting would require significant reengineering.
- Non-Vulkan/OpenGL APIs — Does not support DirectX, Metal, or proprietary rendering backends; limited to POSIX/Linux graphics stacks.
- Production Metrics in Headless/Server Context — Designed for interactive overlay use; not suitable as a headless monitoring agent for containerized/cloud GPU workloads.
- NVIDIA Wayland Stability Priority — NVIDIA Wayland support requires NVML (libcuda) and is less mature than X11; may face compatibility issues on cutting-edge Wayland sessions.
License & commercial use
MIT License. Permissive OSI-approved license allowing unrestricted use, modification, and distribution for any purpose (commercial or non-commercial) with only attribution requirement.
MIT License permits commercial use without restriction. Can be bundled, modified, and shipped in proprietary products provided MIT notice is retained. No patent grant or liability limits beyond license text; standard commercial practice applies (review for indemnity/SLA needs).
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Moderate |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Uses LD_PRELOAD and Vulkan layer injection to hook graphics APIs; inherits privileges of host process. No code audit data provided. Typical risks: LD_PRELOAD interception surface, libvulkan/libGL dependency supply chain, libcap usage for potential privilege escalation (not detailed in docs). Sandboxed well under Flatpak. Recommend vendor/distro security advisories for critical updates.
Alternatives to consider
OBS with game capture
General-purpose live performance visualization; heavier overhead, requires separate window management, but cross-platform and mature.
GPU Vendor Tools (NVIDIA-SMI, AMD-Tools, Intel-GPU-Tools)
Native, vendor-supported GPU monitoring; less game-focused, no in-game overlay, better for headless/server; requires distro-specific setup.
Gfxbench / GFXBench / FrameView
Dedicated graphics benchmarking tools; more structured metrics, cross-platform, but not real-time in-game overlay and proprietary licensing.
Build on MangoHud with DEV.co software developers
MangoHud is production-ready for Linux graphics workloads. Evaluate against OBS and vendor tools for your monitoring strategy.
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MangoHud FAQ
Does MangoHud work on Windows or macOS?
Will MangoHud work with my NVIDIA GPU on Wayland?
How do I enable MangoHud for Steam games?
Can I log FPS data for analysis?
Software developers & web developers for hire
DEV.co helps companies turn open-source tools like MangoHud into production software. Our software development services cover the full lifecycle — architecture, web development, integration, and maintenance — delivered by software developers and web developers who ship. Engage our software development agency to implement or customize it for your open-source observability stack.
Ready to integrate real-time performance monitoring?
MangoHud is production-ready for Linux graphics workloads. Evaluate against OBS and vendor tools for your monitoring strategy.