Mac Cleanup Go

Key Features

• •Interactive TUI with category selection and file preview: The terminal UI lets you browse cache, log, and temp file categories, see exact sizes and paths, and toggle items to include or exclude before deletion, giving you complete control over what gets removed and ensuring transparency.
• •Safety impact levels (safe, moderate, risky, manual): Each target is labeled by risk, with risky items unselected by default and auto-excluded; you must deliberately include them in preview to delete, preventing accidental removal of important data and adding a crucial safety net.
• •Parallel scanning of known paths: The tool scans configured directories across apps, development tools, and system locations in parallel, covering 107 targets including Homebrew, Docker, and browser caches, providing a rapid and comprehensive overview of reclaimable space.
• •Built-in scanners for Homebrew, Docker, and old downloads: It uses brew and docker output plus file last-modified times to identify reclaimable space, giving accurate cleanup for development environments and helping developers clear build artifacts efficiently.
• •CLI mode for automation and scripting: You can run `mac-cleanup --select`, `--clean --dry-run`, or `--clean` to configure and execute cleanup non-interactively, ideal for maintenance scripts, cron jobs, and headless operation in automated pipelines.
• •Preview-first deletion that moves files to Trash: Files are sent to Trash by default, allowing recovery, while only the Trash category empties permanently, balancing safety with thorough cleanup and reducing the risk of irreversible data loss.

Use Cases

• •Reclaim space from development caches: A developer runs `mac-cleanup` after multiple Docker builds and Go compilations. The tool scans Go build cache, Docker images, and Homebrew cache, revealing gigabytes of space. They preview, confirm no critical files are included, and delete, instantly freeing over 5 GB without reinstalling anything.
• •Safely clean browser caches and system logs: A user wants to free disk space without breaking applications. They open the TUI, see safe categories like App Caches and System Logs, select them, preview to check no personal files appear, and delete. Outcome: a cleaner disk without side effects or lost settings.
• •Automate periodic cleanup via CLI: A sysadmin schedules `mac-cleanup --clean` in a cron job. First, a `--dry-run` provides a report; then the actual cleanup runs. Regular maintenance keeps workstations lean and prevents unexpected disk-full errors, all without any manual interaction.
• •Clean up temporary files and old downloads: The old-downloads scanner identifies outdated installation files in the Downloads folder based on last-modified time. The user previews, selects only the unneeded files, and deletes, clearing significant space from forgotten downloads.
• •Selective cleanup of specific apps: For Telegram and KakaoTalk, the manual category shows guides rather than automatic deletion. The user follows the prompts to locate large chat caches and manually decides what to clear, maintaining full control over sensitive communication data.

Who is this for?

Mac Cleanup Go is designed for macOS developers, system administrators, and power users who favor command-line and TUI interfaces over GUI bloat. It suits anyone managing heavy development environments with Homebrew, Docker, Go, Node, or Xcode caches. Terminal-centric IT professionals looking to automate disk cleanup via scripts will appreciate the CLI mode. It is also ideal for privacy-conscious users who want full visibility and control over every file before deletion. The safety levels make it accessible even to cautious beginners who are comfortable with the terminal.