# Mole — Terminal Cleanup and Optimization Toolkit for macOS

> Open-source macOS maintenance CLI that cleans, uninstalls, analyzes, optimizes, and monitors your Mac from the terminal.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# Mole — Terminal Cleanup and Optimization Toolkit for macOS

## Quick Use
```bash
# Install via Homebrew
brew install tw93/tap/mole

# Scan for junk files
mole clean

# Uninstall an app completely
mole uninstall AppName

# Show disk usage analysis
mole analyze
```

## Introduction
Mole is an open-source command-line tool by tw93 that brings macOS system maintenance into the terminal. It replaces GUI utilities like CleanMyMac, DaisyDisk, and iStat Menus with a single lightweight binary, giving developers full control over cleanup, monitoring, and optimization without leaving their workflow.

## What Mole Does
- Scans and removes system junk, caches, logs, and leftover files to reclaim disk space
- Fully uninstalls applications including preferences, containers, and support files
- Analyzes disk usage with an interactive visual breakdown in the terminal
- Monitors CPU, memory, disk, and network usage in real time
- Optimizes system performance by clearing inactive memory and DNS caches

## Architecture Overview
Mole is written as a collection of shell scripts orchestrated by a central dispatcher. Each subcommand (clean, uninstall, analyze, optimize, monitor) is a standalone module that uses native macOS utilities like mdfind, lsof, and system_profiler under the hood. This keeps the binary small and dependency-free while leveraging the operating system's own APIs for accurate results.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Install via Homebrew with `brew install tw93/tap/mole`
- Alternatively clone the repo and run `make install` for manual setup
- Configuration is stored in `~/.config/mole/config.toml` for custom scan paths
- Supports exclusion lists to skip specific directories or apps during cleanup
- Works on macOS 12 Monterey and later with both Intel and Apple Silicon

## Key Features
- Single binary with zero external dependencies beyond macOS system tools
- Interactive terminal UI for disk analysis with color-coded size indicators
- Safe uninstall mode that previews files before deletion
- Real-time system monitor as a lightweight alternative to Activity Monitor
- Extensible subcommand architecture for adding custom maintenance scripts

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **CleanMyMac** — commercial GUI app with subscription pricing; Mole is free and terminal-native
- **DaisyDisk** — excellent disk visualizer but GUI-only; Mole provides terminal-based analysis
- **AppCleaner** — uninstalls apps but limited to drag-and-drop; Mole handles CLI batch operations
- **iStat Menus** — system monitor in the menu bar; Mole provides similar data in the terminal
- **ncdu** — disk usage analyzer for any Unix; Mole adds macOS-specific cleanup and uninstall

## FAQ
**Q: Does Mole work on Linux?**
A: No, Mole is designed specifically for macOS and relies on macOS-native system APIs and utilities.

**Q: Is it safe to run mole clean on a production machine?**
A: Mole targets caches, logs, and temporary files that are safe to remove. It always shows a preview before deleting, and you can add exclusions for sensitive paths.

**Q: How does Mole compare to running manual terminal commands?**
A: Mole aggregates dozens of cleanup and analysis commands into simple subcommands, saving time and reducing the chance of accidentally deleting important files.

**Q: Can Mole schedule automated cleanups?**
A: Mole itself does not include a scheduler, but you can invoke it from cron or launchd for recurring maintenance.

## Sources
- https://github.com/tw93/Mole
- https://tw93.fun/

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-6f7d42b5
Author: Script Depot