Maclean.
[01] Background
As a developer, I kept running into the same problem: my Mac storage would quietly fill up with build artifacts, Xcode DerivedData, node_modules, and browser caches. Existing tools were either too aggressive, not developer-aware, or required a paid subscription for basic features. I built Maclean to scratch my own itch — a native Swift app that understands developer workflows and cleans safely.
[02] Branding
The name "Maclean" is a play on "Mac" and "clean." The visual identity uses a warm, approachable aesthetic to counter the cold, clinical feel of most system utilities. The broom illustration communicates the core action immediately while keeping the tone light and friendly.
[03] Goals
Developer-Aware Cleanup
Go beyond generic cache cleaning to understand developer-specific junk: Xcode DerivedData, build artifacts across 15+ project types (node_modules, target, .build, Pods, dist, __pycache__), and dev tool caches.
Safety First
All deletions go to Trash first for safe recovery. Path validation restricts operations to the user home directory, blocking critical system paths. Deduplication prevents files from appearing in multiple scan categories.
Complete Disk Intelligence
Give developers full visibility into what's eating their storage with large file detection, unused app identification, universal binary thinning via lipo, and lifetime cleanup history tracking.
[04] Solutions
Modular Scan Engine
Built a plugin-style scan architecture with 10 independent modules (System Cache, Browser, Xcode, Homebrew, Dev Tools, App Cache, etc.) that run in parallel. Each module is isolated, testable, and safe — results are deduplicated before presentation.
Project Cleanup Across 15+ Types
Implemented a project scanner that walks the filesystem identifying build artifact directories by type (npm, Rust, Swift PM, CocoaPods, Python, etc.) and calculates the exact disk space recoverable per project — giving developers an informed choice before deleting.
Sentinel Mode
Built a background monitor that watches Trash for deleted apps and proactively notifies users to clean up leftover data — turning a one-time cleanup into an ongoing maintenance habit.
App Lipo & Disk Analyzer
Added lipo integration to thin universal binaries by removing unused CPU architectures (e.g., stripping x86_64 from Apple Silicon Macs), and a large file analyzer that surfaces files over 100 MB to help users make informed storage decisions.