McClean For Mac

Mac OS X generates by default .DS_Store (Desktop Services Store) files that are usually hidden and retain details about the icons position or the folder’s wallpaper.

This is not usually a problem but, if you archive and share the folder with other users, the .DS_Store files and other hidden files / folders will also be included: this can tamper with the archive structure or can disclose details about your system that you do not want to make available to others.

However, Mac OS X is not the only one that generates hidden files. The Subversion application generates .svn files, Git create .git folders and files, while Windows Explorer stores thumbnail images in the thumbs.db files.

When you archive your folders, these files take up unnecessary space and it’s a good idea to make an effort and delete them. Of course, you can use the Terminal to reveal all the hidden files on your system and then manually clean the folder you want to share.

At the same time, you can use the McClean minimalist Mac app to streamline the process. Due to its simple and organized user interface working with McClean is extremely intuitive.

In the main McClean window, choose the folder you want to clean and then check the elements that should be deleted: .DS_Store files, .svn folders, .git folders, .git* files or thumbs.db files. McClean will scan the folder and then list the detected files in the result log area.

The next step is to press the “Delete” button placed on the right side of the Results Log panel. McClean quickly removes the files and displays a notification window letting you know how many files and folders have been taken out.

To conclude, McClean delivers a simple and straightforward solution for quickly removing the hidden files and folders included in a certain directory without having to use Terminal commands.