What is DataSabi?
DataSabi is a per-app network usage monitor for Linux laptops. It tells you, by app name, how much data your machine has used today, this week, and this month — and alerts you when a background app starts draining your mobile bundle.
Two components
DataSabi is made of two pieces that work together.
The collector (datasabi-collector) is a background service that runs with elevated permissions. It captures network traffic at the kernel level, maps each packet to the process that sent or received it, and writes byte counts into a local database. It never stores what you browse — only how much each app used.
The app (DataSabi) is the desktop dashboard. It connects to the collector over a Unix socket, displays the usage data, and sends desktop notifications when an alert fires.
Why two pieces?
Capturing network traffic on Linux requires elevated system rights. Separating the privileged part (the collector) from the UI means only the minimal, open-source code runs with elevated rights. The desktop app runs as your normal user.
The collector needs four Linux capabilities to do its job:
- CAP_NET_RAW and CAP_NET_ADMIN — to capture packets
- CAP_SYS_PTRACE and CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH — to read
/procfiles and see which process owns each connection
These are granted by systemd; the service is not root and cannot gain further privileges.
Who it's for
DataSabi is built for people who work on laptops connected to mobile data — MiFi, phone hotspots, or metered SIM cards. It's made for Linux because that's where the problem was sharp enough to build for.
Next steps
Issue with this page? Email isaac@arkodeon.com