DevCleaner

DevCleaner is a free macOS application that reclaims gigabytes of disk space from development tools and AI applications. Designed specifically for developers, it monitors build artifacts from Xcode, Android Studio, Node.js, Python, and over 20 other toolchains. Its core value is automating the detection and safe deletion of cache files that accumulate silently, giving back usable disk space without risking any development environment. The app lives in the menu bar, requires no account, and weighs only 4 MB, making it a lightweight yet powerful utility.

The concrete problem DevCleaner solves is the silent accumulation of build artifacts that development tools never clean up. DerivedData folders, Gradle caches, npm cache, and local LLM models can total tens of gigabytes, slowing down the system and causing storage alerts. Manual cleanup is tedious and error-prone—deleting the wrong folder, like an Android SDK or Device Support files, can break the entire development environment. DevCleaner resolves this by scanning known cache locations and categorizing every item by its risk profile.

First major feature: the safety model. Every scanned item carries one of three explicit risk levels: Safe, Warning, or Danger. Safe items like DerivedData, Gradle caches, and pip cache are pre-selected for deletion because they regenerate automatically on the next build. Warning items like old simulators and archived builds grow back slowly and are never pre-selected. Danger items like Android SDK and iOS Device Support are shown with their size but never touched unless the user explicitly confirms. This prevents accidental breakage while maximizing reclaimable space.

Second major feature: coverage across 23 toolchains. DevCleaner ships with dedicated scanners for Xcode, Android Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Node.js (npm, Yarn, pnpm), Python (pip, uv), Flutter, Rust, Go, CocoaPods, Homebrew, Docker, Maven, Composer, Unity, VS Code, and AI tools including Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini CLI, Cursor, Windsurf, Antigravity, Ollama, and LM Studio. Each scanner knows the exact cache paths and which files regenerate, so it can safely recommend deletion. Users can also add custom folders.

Third major feature: menu bar operation with live scanning. The app lives discreetly in the menu bar, showing a small badge of total reclaimable space without cluttering the desktop. When opened, sizes stream in live as the scanner walks through caches—every category, every toolchain counted byte by byte. One click on Quick Clean wipes all safe items, or users can review each category manually. The freed space updates in real time, providing immediate feedback.