mcdu is a terminal-based disk usage analyzer with additional functionality for cleaning up files created by development tools. It combines directory exploration with targeted detection of caches, build artifacts and other data that can accumulate during software development.
The application offers an interactive filesystem browser with keyboard navigation and size-based visual indicators. Users can inspect directories to identify storage consumption or switch to its developer cleanup functions to find potentially reclaimable space.
Its cleanup routines recognise artifacts from a range of development environments and build systems. Examples include dependency directories, compiled output, caches and other files generated by development workflows.
mcdu includes safeguards intended to reduce the risk of accidental deletion. Users can preview cleanup actions, receive confirmation prompts and record operations in a machine-readable audit log.
The application is suitable for developers who regularly work with large projects and want to combine general disk analysis with targeted removal of generated files.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Interactive terminal disk usage browser with size-based colour indicators.
- Keyboard navigation using vim-style controls.
- Background filesystem scanning with live progress reporting.
- Developer cleanup routines covering numerous programming ecosystems.
- Detect build output, dependency directories and development caches.
- Identify orphaned application data on macOS.
- Configurable cleanup rules and age-based protection for selected directories.
- Dry-run mode for previewing proposed deletions.
- Confirmation dialogs before removing selected data.
- JSON audit logs recording cleanup operations.
- Options for including or excluding particular categories of build artifacts.
- Parallel scanning for identifying reclaimable development files.
- Cross-platform support – runs on Linux and macOS.
Website: github.com/mikalv/mcdu
Support:
Developer: Mikal Villa
License: MIT License
mcdu is written in Rust. Learn Rust with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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