mac-software-storage-cleanup-cn

Mac Software Storage Cleanup

Overview

Audit macOS software installations and disk usage, output executable tiered cleanup recommendations, and perform low-risk cleanup after user confirmation. The process distinguishes application lists, caches, simulator data, and medium-risk application data to avoid deleting business data without confirmation.

When to use

Use this skill when the user has the following needs:

• Check /Applications、~/Applications, Homebrew Formula, and Homebrew Cask installed software
• Count space usage of software and common cache directories, and sort by size
• Clean up ~/Library/Caches、~/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator and other low-risk directories
• Provide disk space governance recommendations, and distinguish low-risk and medium-risk cleanup items

Do not use

This skill should not be used in the following scenarios:

• The user wants to uninstall a specific application, rather than perform a disk governance inventory
• The user requests direct deletion of a business data directory, but without explicit confirmation
• The task environment is not macOS, or the target path does not apply to the current system

Usage instructions

1. First execute scripts/report_sizes.sh, inventory software sources and major usage directories.
2. Based on the report, distinguish cleanup priorities:
   • Priority 1: caches and simulator data, low risk by default.
   • Priority 2: application business data directories, only list candidates, do not delete directly.
   • Priority 3: small caches or logs with lower benefit.
3. When outputting conclusions, must show directory categories, counts, total usage, and Top N large items.
4. If priority 2 candidates need to be scanned, execute scripts/list_priority2_candidates.sh [目标目录] [TopN]。
5. Only after explicit user confirmation, execute scripts/cleanup_priority1.sh or equivalent cleanup actions.
6. After cleanup is complete, recalculate and output the comparison result of "before cleanup -> after cleanup -> space freed".

Standard process

盘点安装来源与空间占用
  -> 识别高价值可清理目录
  -> 给出分级建议
  -> 等待用户确认
  -> 执行低风险清理
  -> 复核释放结果

Execute command

bash scripts/report_sizes.sh
bash scripts/list_priority2_candidates.sh ~/Library/Application\\ Support 20
bash scripts/cleanup_priority1.sh

Output requirements

• Clearly show the count and total usage of each type of path
• List Top N large items, to facilitate quick user decisions
• Any cleanup action must include a before-and-after cleanup comparison
• Without user confirmation, do not proactively delete priority 2 directories

Boundaries

• Do not use destructive git commands
• Do not delete application business data not confirmed by the user
• If the script fails, switch to a more reliable read-only investigation or minimal-scope cleanup method