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System Data · 2026-07-05 · 7 min read
Why Are macOS Storage Recommendations Useless For Developers?
macOS Storage Recommendations tell you to empty Trash and use iCloud. On a developer Mac the real 100 GB problem is buried under System Data, and the panel never mentions it.
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Safety · 2026-07-05 · 8 min read
Why Do AI Coding CLIs Fill Your Disk And Never Clean Up?
AI coding CLIs like Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex fill developer disks with logs, sessions, and packfiles. Why they never auto-clean, and what should change.
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Pain Story · 2026-07-04 · 7 min read
Why did my MacBook refuse to install macOS with 47 GB free?
A 91 GB dev-Mac postmortem after a macos update failed low disk space error with 47 GB free. Every path, size, and the Trash-first sweep that reclaimed the disk.
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Pain Story · 2026-07-04 · 8 min read
My Time Machine backup swelled to 4 TB backing up a 512 GB MacBook. Here's what was churning.
How my Time Machine backup hit 4 TB backing up a 512 GB developer MacBook, the dev cache churn behind it, and the Trash-first fix that stopped the growth.
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System Data · 2026-07-03 · 7 min read
How do I clean System Data on a Mac without installing CleanMyMac?
System Data cleanup on Mac without CleanMyMac using free Terminal commands, per-tool caps, and a Trash-first sweep. Includes a manual vs cleaner comparison table and audit script.
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System Data · 2026-07-03 · 7 min read
Why does System Data keep growing on my Mac even when I delete files?
System Data keeps growing on Mac because APFS snapshots, developer caches, and AI tool logs backfill anything you delete. Here is what actually feeds it and how to make it stop.
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System Data · 2026-07-02 · 8 min read
How do I check System Data size on a Mac from the Terminal?
How to check System Data size on Mac Terminal with df, diskutil, and a du audit that names every folder feeding the gray bar. Read-only, safe, no cleaner installed.
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Xcode · 2026-07-02 · 7 min read
Xcode storage 100GB cleanup on Mac: the six-folder audit that reclaims a triple-digit footprint
Xcode storage 100GB cleanup done honestly on Mac. Six folders, a read-only audit, the safe order, and a Trash-first sweep that reclaims 90 to 140 GB without touching a project.
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JS/Containers · 2026-07-01 · 8 min read
How do I run a node_modules disk audit on my Mac?
A five-column node_modules disk audit for Mac: size, staleness, lockfile, git status, and package manager. Reclaim 40 to 80 GB without breaking active projects.
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JS/Containers · 2026-07-01 · 7 min read
Yarn cache cleanup on Mac: where classic and Berry actually store packages, honest sizes, and a Trash-first sweep for both
Yarn cache cleanup on Mac done honestly. Where Yarn Classic and Yarn Berry store packages, why du lies, the safe commands, and how CleanMyDev routes the whole thing to Trash.
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JS/Containers · 2026-06-30 · 8 min read
Colima vs OrbStack disk usage on Mac: where each one hides its VM, why Docker.raw still wins the worst-offender award, and how to shrink all three
Colima vs OrbStack disk usage on Mac compared honestly. Where each VM lives, what fills it, why Docker Desktop is still the loudest, and the safe shrink commands.
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Xcode · 2026-06-30 · 8 min read
How do I do an XCTestDevices cleanup on Mac safely?
An XCTestDevices cleanup on Mac: where the per-test-run simulator clones hide, why xcrun simctl never sees them, and the safe Trash-first sweep that reclaims tens of GB.
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LLM Models · 2026-06-29 · 8 min read
How does LLM model disk space compare across sizes and quantisations?
A 2026 LLM model disk space comparison across 7B, 13B, 70B, and 405B at Q2 to FP16, with per-tool footprints in Ollama, LM Studio, and Hugging Face.
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JS/Containers · 2026-06-29 · 8 min read
How do I do a Playwright cache cleanup on Mac safely?
A Playwright cache cleanup on Mac: where ms-playwright hides multi-GB browser binaries, what npx playwright uninstall actually removes, and the safe Trash-first sweep.
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Xcode · 2026-06-28 · 8 min read
What is the CoreSimulator Caches folder on a Mac, and what is safe to delete?
Explainer for the CoreSimulator caches folder on a Mac: what dyld, runtime, and Xcode preview caches actually hold, the typical sizes per Xcode version, and the safe-to-delete subpaths.
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Xcode · 2026-06-28 · 8 min read
Xcode vs System Data storage: why the macOS bar says 12 GB Xcode and 180 GB System Data on the same Mac
Xcode vs System Data storage on a Mac compared row by row. Why the Xcode bar is only the app bundle while DerivedData, simulators, and SPM hide inside System Data.
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AI Tools · 2026-06-27 · 8 min read
How do I clean up Gemini CLI Mac disk usage without losing my project context?
Audit Gemini CLI Mac disk usage across ~/.gemini and its caches, then run a Trash-first sweep of sessions, tmp, and logs without resetting oauth or memory.
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AI Tools · 2026-06-27 · 8 min read
How do I clean up Windsurf Mac storage without losing my Cascade history?
Audit Windsurf Mac storage, run a safe cleanup of workspaceStorage, logs, and Code Cache, and reclaim multi-GB folders without resetting Codeium or Cascade.
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LLM Models · 2026-06-26 · 8 min read
How do I archive LLM models without redownload risk?
How to archive LLM models without redownload pain: per-tool paths, an external-drive layout, checksum verification, and a Trash-first reclaim that keeps a rollback window.
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System Data · 2026-06-26 · 8 min read
What are the actual System Data categories on a Mac?
Decoding system data categories on a Mac: the seven real buckets behind the gray bar, with paths, du commands, and per-category safe-reduce notes for developers.
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JS/Containers · 2026-06-25 · 7 min read
Where is the Bun cache location on Mac and how do I clean it safely?
Find the real Bun cache location on Mac, audit its size honestly, run bun pm cache rm safely, and stop a quietly multi-GB install cache from eating your disk.
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AI Tools · 2026-06-25 · 8 min read
How do I run a safe Factory AI disk cleanup on a Mac without nuking droid sessions?
Audit Factory AI on a Mac, run a safe Factory AI disk cleanup, and reclaim multi-GB caches without resetting droid sessions or active workspace state.
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Xcode · 2026-06-24 · 7 min read
How do I find and delete orphaned simulator runtimes on a Mac?
Find and safely delete orphaned simulator runtimes on Mac that xcrun simctl can't touch, with the AssetsV2 path, du audit commands, and a Trash-first reclaim.
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Comparison · 2026-06-24 · 8 min read
Xcode cleanup script vs CleanMyDev: which one actually reclaims 100+ GB safely?
Xcode cleanup script vs CleanMyDev compared on coverage, safety, and rollback. The shell script reclaims fast. CleanMyDev shows receipts before touching DerivedData, Archives, or simulators.
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AI Tools · 2026-06-23 · 7 min read
What does the AI coding tools disk footprint on a Mac look like in 2026?
What the AI coding tools disk footprint on a Mac looks like in 2026: five categories, why they grow without bound, and the per-tool paths behind the gray bar.
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JS/Containers · 2026-06-22 · 8 min read
How do I find all node_modules folders on my Mac?
Find every node_modules folder on a Mac, sort them by node_modules disk space, and reclaim gigabytes from dead projects with a Trash-first audit.
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AI Tools · 2026-06-22 · 8 min read
Which AI coding tool uses the most disk space on a Mac?
Head-to-head ranking of which AI coding tool uses the most disk space on a Mac, with per-tool path lists, real audit numbers, and a Trash-first reclaim playbook.
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JS/Containers · 2026-06-21 · 7 min read
How do I run a safe pnpm store cleanup on Mac?
Safe pnpm store cleanup playbook for Mac: where the v3 store lives, why du lies about it, how pnpm store prune works, and a Trash-first sweep that keeps a rollback window.
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Pain Story · 2026-06-21 · 8 min read
What was actually inside my Mac's 180 GB System Data autopsy?
A line-by-line System Data autopsy of a 180 GB gray bar on a developer MacBook: which folders, which tools, and what the receipts looked like after the cleanup.
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Safety · 2026-06-20 · 7 min read
What does audit before delete mean for a developer Mac cleaner?
Why audit before delete is the right default for a developer Mac cleaner: the receipts an audit must produce, the failure modes of blind deletion, and how CleanMyDev keeps the rollback window open.
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AI Tools · 2026-06-20 · 8 min read
How do I fix the Claude Code 472 GB debug bug? A step-by-step howto
Step-by-step fix for the Claude Code 472 GB debug bug: audit `~/.claude/debug` and MCP log paths, move them to Trash safely, and cap future growth with one settings line.
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Comparison · 2026-06-19 · 8 min read
CleanMyDev vs Room Service: which AI-era Mac cleaner actually fits a dev stack?
CleanMyDev vs Room Service compared on scope, price, safety, and AI-tool coverage. One nukes local model weights. The other audits the full developer Mac before deleting anything.
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LLM Models · 2026-06-19 · 8 min read
How do I clean LM Studio storage on Mac without redownloading models?
How to audit and clean LM Studio storage on Mac: model paths, GGUF folders, logs, and the safe Trash-first removal flow that keeps a rollback window.
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Safety · 2026-06-18 · 6 min read
Why does CleanMyDev show receipts before deleting anything?
Why CleanMyDev shows receipts before deletion: a review-first Mac cleaner with paths, sizes, last-used dates, and risk labels for every developer cache.
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AI Tools · 2026-06-05 · 8 min read
What is the Claude Code file-history bug that ate 300 GB?
The Claude Code file-history bug explained: how a background watcher looped on its own writes and burned 300 GB, where to look, and the safe fix on Mac.
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Xcode · 2026-06-04 · 8 min read
How do I clean up the iOS DeviceSupport folder on my Mac?
iOS DeviceSupport folder cleanup on Mac: where Xcode hides per-device debug symbols, which versions are safe to delete, and the exact mv-to-Trash playbook.
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Pain Story · 2026-06-04 · 7 min read
Why does the Mac System Data anxiety hit every developer after a year?
The Mac System Data anxiety is the year-long dread of watching system data macbook storage hit 180 GB with no breakdown. Here's how I named the bar.
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Comparison · 2026-06-03 · 8 min read
CleanMyDev vs Devpurge: which dev-focused Mac cleaner fits your stack?
CleanMyDev vs Devpurge compared on price, scope, safety, and which developer caches each cleaner actually scans. Two indie dev tools, two takes on the same disk pain.
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AI Tools · 2026-06-03 · 8 min read
Why are Cursor .pack files eating my Mac disk space?
Cursor .pack files disk space explained: where workspaceStorage hides the bloat, which packs are safe to delete, the exact mv-to-Trash commands, and how to cap future growth.
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Safety · 2026-06-02 · 7 min read
Move to Trash vs rm -rf: which is safer to clean a developer Mac?
Move to Trash vs rm -rf for a developer Mac in 2026. What each command does to APFS, what is reversible, and the safe default for Xcode, Claude, and Docker caches.
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Xcode · 2026-06-02 · 8 min read
What is the Xcode Archives folder and can I safely delete it?
The Xcode Archives folder explained for iOS devs: what `~/Library/Developer/Xcode/Archives` actually holds, what breaks if you delete it, and the safe playbook.
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AI Tools · 2026-06-01 · 7 min read
How do I clean up Claude Code disk usage on my Mac?
Clean up Claude Code disk usage on Mac safely: where ~/.claude bloats, which folders are diagnostic, the safe commands, and what to never delete.
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Pain Story · 2026-06-01 · 8 min read
How I freed 147 GB on my MacBook in 12 minutes with CleanMyDev
A timestamped before-after of a developer Mac cleanup: 147 GB freed in 12 minutes across Claude, Cursor, Codex, Ollama, Docker, and Xcode, with receipts.
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Comparison · 2026-05-31 · 7 min read
CleanMyMac alternatives 2026: which Mac cleaner actually fits your stack?
CleanMyMac alternatives for 2026 compared on price, subscription model, safety, and how much developer junk they actually clean. Eight tools ranked, with receipts.
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System Data · 2026-05-31 · 8 min read
What makes up 180 GB of System Data on a MacBook?
A forensic system data macbook 180gb breakdown: every folder that feeds the gray bar on a developer Mac, with typical sizes, paths, and safe-to-delete labels.
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Safety · 2026-05-30 · 8 min read
Are Mac cleaners safe in 2026? A developer's safety guide
Is a Mac cleaner safe in 2026, or scareware in disguise? A developer's safety guide to permissions, scans, and the receipts you should demand before any cleanup.
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Xcode · 2026-05-30 · 8 min read
How do I reclaim disk space from Xcode simulators?
How to reclaim disk from Xcode simulators on Mac: the four folders that hold them, the safe order to delete, and the rogue runtimes simctl cannot reach.
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Pain Story · 2026-05-29 · 8 min read
How did AI coding tools quietly fill 247 GB of my MacBook in 16 months?
A 16-month audit of the AI tools disk footprint on a working developer Mac: 247 GB across Claude, Cursor, Codex, Cline, Ollama, and Hugging Face, with receipts.
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System Data · 2026-05-29 · 8 min read
How do I reduce System Data on macOS safely?
How do I reduce System Data on macOS safely? A developer playbook for shrinking the gray bar in About This Mac without breaking Xcode or dev caches.
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Safety · 2026-05-28 · 8 min read
Is it safe to delete DerivedData on a working Mac?
Is it safe to delete DerivedData? A skeptical safety audit for working iOS devs: what actually breaks, edge cases on CI and multi-Xcode setups, and the safest path.
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Xcode · 2026-05-28 · 8 min read
What does xcrun simctl delete unavailable actually do?
A complete xcrun simctl delete unavailable guide for iOS developers: what it removes, what it leaves behind, the rogue simulators it cannot touch, and the safe order.
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Comparison · 2026-05-27 · 6 min read
CleanMyDev vs CleanMyMac: which Mac cleaner actually helps developers?
CleanMyDev vs CleanMyMac compared on price, scope, safety, and developer-specific cleanup. One is a 16-year consumer brand. The other targets the 180 GB of dev junk Apple calls System Data.
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System Data · 2026-05-27 · 6 min read
System Data vs Other storage on Mac: what's the actual difference?
System Data vs Other storage on Mac confuses every developer who looks at the macOS storage panel. Here's exactly what each bucket means, why they look swapped, and how to audit them on a dev machine.
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Pain Story · 2026-05-26 · 8 min read
How did Claude Code use 472 GB of my MacBook? A postmortem
A postmortem of the Claude Code 472 GB bug: where the disk space went, why macOS could not update, and how to clean up safely without nuking your auth.
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Xcode · 2026-05-26 · 7 min read
How do I safely delete Xcode DerivedData?
How to safely delete Xcode DerivedData on Mac without breaking your build. What's inside, what comes back, what to leave alone, and the safest command.
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System Data · 2026-05-25 · 7 min read
What is System Data on Mac, and why is it so huge?
What is System Data on Mac? A plain-English definition, the exact paths Apple bundles into that gray bar, and how to find what's inside on a developer machine.
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Pain Story · 2026-05-25 · 8 min read
Why I built CleanMyDev: 168 GB of System Data wasn't macOS
Why I built CleanMyDev: I opened macOS Storage, saw 168 GB of System Data, and discovered it was Claude sessions, Codex rollouts, Ollama models, and Xcode caches. Not macOS.
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System Data · 2026-05-24 · 4 min read
Why is your Mac's System Data 180 GB?
A receipt-first breakdown of what macOS hides inside 'System Data' on developer Macs — Xcode caches, simulator runtimes, AI tool sessions, model weights, and more — plus exactly how to find each one.