Mole: A Free & Open-Source Mac Cleaner
Mole is a free, open-source Mac cleaning powerhouse for developers and power users. Ditch the paid apps and use this lightweight terminal tool for truly deep system cleaning — from Xcode caches to stubborn app leftovers — and reclaim gigabytes of space.
For every Mac user, the “Disk space is almost full” warning is likely a constant pain point. We install countless apps and process endless files, while system caches and application leftovers silently devour our precious solid-state drives.
Today, we're taking a look at a new, open-source, and free star: Mole. Its slogan is, "Dig deep like a mole to clean your Mac," and this is no exaggeration. It's a terminal-based tool designed for geeks who demand extreme efficiency and deep cleaning. It's lightweight, powerful, and completely free.
Features
Deep System Cleanup
Mole's biggest highlight is its astonishing cleaning depth. It doesn't just handle regular user caches, logs, and the Trash; it digs deep into the "lairs" of developer tools, such as:
- Xcode build cache (Derived Data)
- Node.js cache (npm/yarn)
- Stubborn browser caches (Chrome/Safari)
- Cache files from apps like Dropbox and Spotify
Compared to many GUI tools, Mole's scanning range is broader and its cleaning is far more thorough. For developers, cleaning just the Xcode and Node.js caches alone could free up tens of gigabytes of space.
True Application Uninstallation
On macOS, simply dragging an application to the Trash doesn't fully uninstall it. A large number of configuration files, caches, and support files remain scattered in various corners of the system.
Mole's uninstall feature is a godsend for "uninstallation perfectionists." It scans over 22 application-related locations across the entire disk, from ~/Library/Application Support to system-level /Library/LaunchDaemons, ensuring the application and all its associated files are completely wiped out, freeing up every last inch of space.
Interactive Disk Analyzer
Want to know which folder is taking up the most space? The traditional Finder method is inefficient. Mole provides an analyze feature that clearly displays disk usage in a tree structure right in your terminal.
Even better, you can navigate directly using the arrow keys, drill down to locate large files or folders, and then delete them instantly. The entire process is fluid and seamless, with no need for repetitive clicking in a graphical interface.
Lightweight, Efficient: A Pure Terminal Experience
As a terminal application, Mole has no bloated graphical interface, making its startup and execution incredibly fast. It accomplishes all functions via simple commands and offers thoughtful interactive designs:
- Keyboard Navigation: Full operation using arrow and Enter keys.
- Touch ID Support: Cleaning system files requires sudo permission. Mole supports configuring Touch ID, allowing you to authorize with a simple touch instead of repeatedly typing your password.
- Simple Installation: Installs quickly via a single curl command or Homebrew.
Installation and Usage
Install via the following curl command:
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tw93/mole/main/install.sh | bash1
Or install via Homebrew:
brew install tw93/tap/mole1
The specific commands are as follows:
mo # Interactive menu mo clean # System cleanup mo clean --dry-run # Preview mode mo clean --whitelist # Manage protected caches mo uninstall # Uninstall apps mo analyze # Disk analyzer mo touchid # Configure Touch ID for sudo mo update # Update Mole mo remove # Remove Mole from system mo --help # Show help mo --version # Show installed version123456789101112
⚠️ Friendly Reminder: Safety First
It's important to note that Mole is still in its early development stages. It operates with high permissions and has very powerful cleaning capabilities. The developer explicitly recommends: If your Mac is a critical tool for important work, it's advisable to wait for a more mature version before using the full cleanup features.
For those who want to try it now, it is strongly recommended to first use the --dry-run mode to preview what will be deleted and to use the --whitelist feature to protect any important cache directories you don't want to be touched (it defaults to protecting paths for Playwright, HuggingFace, etc.).
Summary
Mole isn't a tool for everyone. But for developers and Power Users who demand extreme efficiency, it is undoubtedly an incredibly appealing powerhouse tool. It's free, open-source, powerful, and transparent, putting the control over system cleaning firmly back in the user's hands.
If you're tired of paid software and are passionate about managing your Mac through the terminal, then head over to GitHub, give it a Star, and experience the "mole's" digging power for yourself.
