Mac Cleanup Go

Mac Cleanup Go is a terminal user interface (TUI) application designed specifically for macOS users who need to reclaim disk space by safely removing unnecessary files. This tool provides a preview-first, interactive approach to cleaning system caches, application logs, and temporary data, giving users full control over the deletion process. It is built for developers, power users, and anyone comfortable with the command line who wants a transparent and safe method to manage disk usage without resorting to opaque system optimizers. Its core value lies in combining comprehensive scanning with granular user oversight, ensuring no critical data is removed accidentally while efficiently identifying space-hogging clutter across the operating system and installed applications.

Over time, macOS accumulates gigabytes of cache files, system logs, and temporary data from everyday use and development tools, which can significantly slow down the system and consume valuable storage. Manually locating and assessing these files is tedious, error-prone, and risky, as users might accidentally delete important data. Generic cleanup tools often operate as black boxes, performing bulk deletions without clear visibility, which can lead to data loss or broken applications. Mac Cleanup Go directly addresses this pain point by scanning known paths across the system and presenting a detailed, categorized view of exactly what can be removed, along with safety labels and file paths, transforming a potentially hazardous chore into a controlled and informed operation.

The application's first major feature is its interactive TUI with category selection and file preview. After scanning, it presents a list of cleanup targets grouped into categories like App Caches, System Logs, and Docker. Users can navigate this list using keyboard shortcuts, select or deselect entire categories, and then preview the individual files within each category before any deletion occurs. This preview view shows file paths, sizes, and allows users to toggle exclusions for specific items they wish to keep. This granular control is crucial because it lets users verify the contents of caches and logs, ensuring only truly disposable data is removed, which prevents the accidental loss of user data or important temporary files.

A second critical feature group is the implementation of safety levels and built-in scanners. Each cleanup target is labeled with an impact level: safe, moderate, risky, or manual. Safe categories contain auto-regenerated caches and logs, while moderate ones may require re-downloads. Risky categories, where user data is possible, are unselected by default and items within them start as excluded. The tool also includes built-in scanners for specific targets like Homebrew Cache, Docker, and old downloads. These scanners use command output from brew or docker, or apply last-modified time filtering, to intelligently identify which files are safe to remove, such as outdated Homebrew package downloads or unused Docker layers, providing automated yet precise targeting.