Mole
All-in-One Mac Optimization Tool for Deep Cleaning and System Monitoring
AI Summary
Mole is an open-source command-line tool for macOS that combines deep system cleaning, intelligent app uninstallation, and live monitoring. It removes caches, logs, browser data, and hidden app remnants, visualizes storage usage, and displays real-time system statistics for CPU, GPU, memory, and network.
✓ Pros
- + Combines multiple premium tools (CleanMyMac, AppCleaner, DaisyDisk, iStat Menus) in one free open-source tool
- + Security-focused with dry-run mode, detailed logging, and conservative deletion rules
- + Easy installation via Homebrew and intuitive CLI with Vim navigation
✗ Cons
- − Only available for macOS (Windows version experimental)
- − Requires command-line knowledge, no graphical user interface
Use Cases
- → Reclaim gigabytes of storage space by removing caches, logs, and browser data
- → Completely uninstall apps including all hidden files, preferences, and launch agents
- → Visualize disk usage and identify large files
- → Real-time monitoring of CPU, GPU, RAM, disk, and network performance
Who is it for?
For Mac developers and power users who want to optimize storage space and manage system performance via the command line.
Tags
What is Mole?
Mole is an open-source command-line tool for macOS that handles tasks for which many developers have been running several paid apps in parallel. It clears caches, logs and browser data, uninstalls apps completely including hidden leftovers, and displays real-time statistics for CPU, GPU, RAM, disk and network. Installation runs via Homebrew, and navigation follows Vim conventions. The source code is publicly available on GitHub.
Core features
- Deep Cleaning: Removes system caches, log files and browser data that accumulate over time and can occupy several gigabytes.
- App Uninstallation: Tracks down the app bundle alongside preferences, launch agents and other hidden files, then deletes them together.
- Disk Visualization: Displays storage usage in a structured view and helps locate large files quickly.
- Live Monitoring: Outputs real-time values for CPU, GPU, memory, disk I/O and network, directly in the terminal.
- Dry-Run Mode: Simulates deletions before execution and logs all actions. Anyone unsure what Mole would touch should run it in dry-run mode first.
Who is Mole for?
Mac developers and power users who manage their system via the command line. Anyone juggling CleanMyMac, AppCleaner, DaisyDisk and iStat Menus and paying annual licence fees gets comparable functionality bundled here, free of charge. Anyone expecting a graphical interface or who avoids the terminal on principle will not get far with Mole. A Windows version exists experimentally but is not the focus of the project.
Context & alternatives
Mole falls into the category of Mac system maintenance tools. The direct commercial equivalents are CleanMyMac X (cleaning and uninstallation), AppCleaner (a free uninstallation tool without monitoring), DaisyDisk (disk analysis) and iStat Menus (system monitoring in the menu bar). None of these tools covers all four areas on its own. The key difference from all the alternatives mentioned: Mole runs entirely in the terminal, can be scripted and costs nothing. Anyone looking to integrate system maintenance into automated workflows has a clear advantage with Mole over click-based GUI tools.
