Compare software

strace vs bpftrace: catalog facts
strace	bpftrace
Free Free and open source under the LGPL 2.1 or later.	Free Free and open source.
Linux, Command line	Linux, Command line
Traces programs without recompiling them Attaches to already running processes	One-line scripts for quick kernel and process tracing Ships a collection of ready-made tools
Linux only Tracing through ptrace slows the traced program	Linux only and needs a kernel with eBPF support Usually requires root privileges
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: LGPL-2.1-or-later	License not stated
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.