Generic disk cleaners like CleanMyMac don't understand developer files. They can't tell if a node_modules folder is from an active project or one you abandoned a year ago. Cluttered is built specifically to solve this problem.
What Makes Cluttered Different?
Unlike generic disk cleaners, Cluttered understands developer workflows:
| Feature | Generic Cleaners | Cluttered |
|---|---|---|
| Understands node_modules | ❌ | ✅ |
| Knows Rust target/ directories | ❌ | ✅ |
| Detects active vs dormant projects | ❌ | ✅ |
| Respects uncommitted git changes | ❌ | ✅ |
| Supports 12+ dev ecosystems | ❌ | ✅ |
How Much Disk Space Can Developers Recover?
A typical developer machine accumulates:
- 20-50GB in node_modules across projects
- 10-30GB in Rust target directories
- 20-100GB in Xcode DerivedData
- 5-50GB in Docker images and containers
Total: 50-200GB of recoverable space on most developer machines.
Supported Development Ecosystems
Cluttered scans and cleans artifacts from:
- Node.js - node_modules directories
- Rust - target/ directories and Cargo cache
- Xcode - DerivedData, Device Support, Archives
- Docker - Images, containers, volumes, build cache
- Python - virtualenv, .venv, pycache
- Go - Module cache, build cache
- Android - Gradle cache, build directories
- Ruby - Bundler cache, gem installations
- PHP - Composer vendor directories
- Java - Maven .m2 cache, Gradle cache
- Elixir - _build, deps directories
- .NET - bin, obj directories
Ready to see how much space you can recover?
Free scan shows results before you clean anything.
How Cluttered Works
Step 1: Smart Scanning
Cluttered scans your entire drive using parallel filesystem traversal. It identifies projects by their structure—package.json for Node, Cargo.toml for Rust, .xcodeproj for Xcode.
Step 2: Project Intelligence
For each project, Cluttered analyzes:
- Git status: Are there uncommitted changes?
- Last modified: When was this project last touched?
- IDE markers: Is this project open in an IDE?
- Size: How much space is the build folder using?
Step 3: Safe Cleanup
Projects are categorized:
- Green (Safe): Dormant projects with no uncommitted changes
- Yellow (Caution): Recently modified but no uncommitted work
- Red (Active): Currently in use or has uncommitted changes
Step 4: Trash-First Deletion
Everything goes to Trash first. If you realize you needed something, you can recover it for 30 days.
Getting Started with Cluttered
- Download Cluttered (free)
- Open the app and click "Scan"
- Review found projects and their sizes
- Select what to clean (start with dormant projects)
- Click "Clean"
The entire process takes under 5 minutes for most machines.
Free vs Pro Features
Free (Unlimited)
- Full scanning capabilities
- All 12+ ecosystem support
- Project intelligence
- Manual cleanup
- Trash-first safety
Pro ($4.99/month)
- Scheduled automatic scans
- Auto-clean dormant projects
- Priority support
- Early access to new features
Most developers get full value from the free version. Pro is for "set it and forget it" automation.
Why Developers Love Cluttered
"I recovered 87GB on my MacBook Pro. Most of it was old Rust projects I forgot about." — Senior Developer
"Finally, a tool that understands that node_modules is safe to delete but I shouldn't lose my uncommitted work." — Frontend Engineer
"The Xcode cleanup alone was worth it. 45GB of DerivedData from projects I haven't touched in months." — iOS Developer
Stop Running Out of Disk Space
Cluttered finds and cleans node_modules, Rust targets, Xcode DerivedData, Docker cache, and more. Reclaim 50-100GB in minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cluttered safe to use?
Yes. Cluttered never deletes uncommitted git changes, moves everything to Trash first, and lets you preview exactly what will be deleted.
Will cleaning slow down my builds?
Only temporarily. Deleted artifacts are regenerated on your next build. For dormant projects, there's no impact until you work on them again.
Does Cluttered work with all project types?
Cluttered supports 12+ ecosystems covering most developer workflows. If your ecosystem isn't supported, let us know.
Is Cluttered free?
Yes, the core functionality is completely free with no limits on manual cleanup. Pro adds automation features.
Does it work on Apple Silicon Macs?
Yes. Cluttered is a universal binary optimized for both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.
Download Cluttered
Ready to reclaim your disk space? Download Cluttered free and see how much space you can recover.
Works on macOS 12.0 (Monterey) and later.