If you're a developer, you've probably seen that dreaded notification: "Your disk is almost full." It always seems to happen at the worst possible moment—during a critical build, while downloading a large dataset, or right before a demo.
But have you ever stopped to wonder where all that space actually goes?
The Usual Suspects
1. node_modules: The Black Hole
Every JavaScript developer knows the pain. A single npm install can pull in hundreds of megabytes of dependencies. Multiply that across 10-20 projects, and you're looking at 20-40 GB easily.
The real kicker? Many of those node_modules folders are in projects you haven't touched in months.
2. Rust's target Directory
Rust is fantastic for performance, but those compile artifacts add up fast. A single release build can exceed 10 GB. If you're working on multiple Rust projects, the target directories alone might be consuming 50+ GB.
3. Xcode's DerivedData
iOS and macOS developers know this one well. Xcode's DerivedData folder quietly accumulates build artifacts, caches, and indexes. It's not uncommon for this folder to reach 30-50 GB.
4. Docker Images and Containers
Docker makes development easier, but those images pile up. Old versions, dangling images, unused containers—it all adds up. A typical development machine can easily have 20-30 GB tied up in Docker data.
Why Traditional Tools Don't Help
Generic disk cleaning utilities like CleanMyMac or DaisyDisk are great for finding large files, but they don't understand developer workflows. They might show you a massive folder, but they can't tell you:
- Is this project still active?
- Is it safe to delete these artifacts?
- Will deleting this break anything?
That's why we built Cluttered. It understands the difference between a project you're actively working on and one you abandoned six months ago.
The Smart Approach
Instead of blindly deleting large folders, Cluttered:
- Scans intelligently - Recognizes project structures across 12+ ecosystems
- Checks activity - Uses git history and file modification times to determine if a project is active
- Protects your work - Never suggests deleting uncommitted changes
- Makes it reversible - Everything goes to Trash first
How Much Space Can You Recover?
Based on our testing across dozens of developer machines:
- Average recovery: 50-100 GB
- Heavy users: 150+ GB
- Fastest cleanup: Under 5 minutes
The best part? You can reclaim all this space without losing any actual code or work.
Conclusion
Disk space management doesn't have to be stressful. With the right tool, you can keep your machine clean without worrying about breaking anything.
Try Cluttered free and see how much space you can reclaim.