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docs: refresh security audit reference
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# Mole Security Reference
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Version 1.28.0 | 2026-02-27
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Version 1.29.0 | 2026-03-08
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This document describes the security-relevant behavior of the current codebase on `main`.
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## Path Validation
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Every deletion goes through `lib/core/file_ops.sh`. The `validate_path_for_deletion()` function rejects empty paths, paths with `/../` in them, and anything containing control characters like newlines or null bytes.
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All destructive file operations go through `lib/core/file_ops.sh`.
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Direct `find ... -delete` is not used for security-sensitive cleanup paths. Deletions go through validated safe wrappers like `safe_sudo_find_delete()`, `safe_sudo_remove()`, and `safe_remove()`.
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- `validate_path_for_deletion()` rejects empty paths, relative paths, traversal segments such as `/../`, and control characters.
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- Security-sensitive cleanup paths do not use raw `find ... -delete`.
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- Removal flows use guarded helpers such as `safe_remove()`, `safe_sudo_remove()`, `safe_find_delete()`, and `safe_sudo_find_delete()`.
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**Blocked paths**, even with sudo:
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Blocked paths remain protected even with sudo, including:
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```text
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/ # root
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/System # macOS system
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/bin, /sbin, /usr # binaries
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/etc, /var # config
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/Library/Extensions # kexts
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/private # system private
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/
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/System
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/bin
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/sbin
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/usr
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/etc
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/var
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/private
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/Library/Extensions
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```
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Some system caches are OK to delete:
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Some subpaths under protected roots are explicitly allowlisted for bounded cache and log cleanup, for example:
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- `/System/Library/Caches/com.apple.coresymbolicationd/data`
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- `/private/tmp`, `/private/var/tmp`, `/private/var/log`, `/private/var/folders`
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- `/private/var/db/diagnostics`, `/private/var/db/DiagnosticPipeline`, `/private/var/db/powerlog`, `/private/var/db/reportmemoryexception`
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- `/private/tmp`
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- `/private/var/tmp`
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- `/private/var/log`
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- `/private/var/folders`
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- `/private/var/db/diagnostics`
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- `/private/var/db/DiagnosticPipeline`
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- `/private/var/db/powerlog`
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- `/private/var/db/reportmemoryexception`
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See `lib/core/file_ops.sh:60-78`.
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When running with sudo, `safe_sudo_recursive_delete()` also checks for symlinks. Refuses to follow symlinks pointing to system files.
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When running with sudo, symlinked targets are validated before deletion and system-target symlinks are refused.
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## Cleanup Rules
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**Orphan detection** at `lib/clean/apps.sh:orphan_detection()`:
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### Orphan Detection
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App data is only considered orphaned if the app itself is gone from all three locations: `/Applications`, `~/Applications`, `/System/Applications`. On top of that, the data must be untouched for at least 60 days. Adobe, Microsoft, and Google stuff is whitelisted regardless.
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Orphaned app data is handled in `lib/clean/apps.sh`.
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**Uninstall matching** at `lib/clean/apps.sh:uninstall_app()`:
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- Generic orphaned app data requires both:
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- the app is not found by installed-app scanning and fallback checks, and
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- the target has been inactive for at least 30 days.
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- Claude VM bundles use a stricter app-specific window:
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- `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/vm_bundles/claudevm.bundle` must appear orphaned, and
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- it must be inactive for at least 7 days before cleanup.
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- Sensitive categories such as keychains, password-manager data, and protected app families are excluded from generic orphan cleanup.
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App names need at least 3 characters. Otherwise "Go" would match "Google" and that's bad. Fuzzy matching is off. Receipt scans only look under `/Applications` and `/Library/Application Support`, not in shared places like `/Library/Frameworks`.
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Installed-app detection is broader than a simple `/Applications` scan and includes:
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**Dev tools:**
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- `/Applications`
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- `/System/Applications`
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- `~/Applications`
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- Homebrew Caskroom locations
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- Setapp application paths
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Cache dirs like `~/.cargo/registry/cache` or `~/.gradle/caches` get cleaned. But `~/.cargo/bin`, `~/.mix/archives`, `~/.rustup` toolchains, `~/.stack/programs` stay untouched.
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Spotlight fallback checks are bounded with short timeouts to avoid hangs.
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**Application Support and Caches:**
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### Uninstall Matching
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- Cache entries are evaluated and removed safely on an item-by-item basis using `safe_remove()` (e.g., `process_container_cache`, `clean_application_support_logs`).
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- Group Containers strictly filter against whitelists before deletion.
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- Targets safe, age-gated resources natively (e.g., CrashReporter > 30 days, cached Steam/Simulator/Adobe/Teams log rot).
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- Explicitly protects high-risk locations: `/private/var/folders/*` sweeping, iOS Backups (`MobileSync`), browser history/cookies, and destructive container/image pruning.
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App uninstall behavior is implemented in `lib/uninstall/batch.sh` and related helpers.
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**LaunchAgent removal:**
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- LaunchAgent and LaunchDaemon lookups require a valid reverse-DNS bundle identifier.
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- Deletion candidates are decoded and validated as absolute paths before removal.
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- Homebrew casks are preferentially removed with `brew uninstall --cask --zap`.
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- LaunchServices unregister and rebuild steps are skipped safely if `lsregister` is unavailable.
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Only removed when uninstalling the app that owns them. All `com.apple.*` items are skipped. Services get stopped via `launchctl` first. Generic names like Music, Notes, Photos are excluded from the search.
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### Developer and Project Cleanup
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`stop_launch_services()` checks bundle_id is valid reverse-DNS before using it in find patterns, stopping glob injection. `find_app_files()` skips LaunchAgents named after common words like Music or Notes.
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Project artifact cleanup in `lib/clean/project.sh` protects recently modified targets:
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`unregister_app_bundle` explicitly drops uninstalled applications from LaunchServices via `lsregister -u`. `refresh_launch_services_after_uninstall` triggers asynchronous database compacting and rebuilds to ensure complete removal of stale app references without blocking workflows.
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- recently modified project artifacts are treated as recent for 7 days
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- protected vendor and build-output heuristics prevent broad accidental deletions
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- nested artifacts are filtered to avoid duplicate or parent-child over-deletion
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See `lib/core/app_protection.sh:find_app_files()`.
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Developer-cache cleanup preserves toolchains and other high-value state. Examples intentionally left alone include:
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- `~/.cargo/bin`
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- `~/.rustup`
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- `~/.mix/archives`
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- `~/.stack/programs`
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## Protected Categories
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System stuff stays untouched: Control Center, System Settings, TCC, Spotlight, `/Library/Updates`.
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Protected or conservatively handled categories include:
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VPN and proxy tools are skipped: Shadowsocks, V2Ray, Tailscale, Clash.
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AI tools are protected: Cursor, Claude, ChatGPT, Ollama, LM Studio.
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`~/Library/Messages/Attachments` and `~/Library/Metadata/CoreSpotlight` are kept out of automatic cleanup to avoid user-data or indexing risk.
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Time Machine backups running? Won't clean. Status unclear? Also won't clean.
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`com.apple.*` LaunchAgents/Daemons are never touched.
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See `lib/core/app_protection.sh:is_critical_system_component()`.
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- system components such as Control Center, System Settings, TCC, Spotlight, and `/Library/Updates`
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- password managers and keychain-related data
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- VPN / proxy tools such as Shadowsocks, V2Ray, Clash, and Tailscale
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- AI tools in generic protected-data logic, including Cursor, Claude, ChatGPT, and Ollama
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- `~/Library/Messages/Attachments`
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- browser history and cookies
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- Time Machine data while backup state is active or ambiguous
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- `com.apple.*` LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons
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## Analyzer
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`mo analyze` runs differently:
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`mo analyze` is intentionally lower-risk than cleanup flows:
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- Standard user permissions, no sudo
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- Respects SIP
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- Two keys to delete: press ⌫ first, then Enter. Hard to delete by accident.
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- Files go to Trash via Finder API, not rm
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- it does not require sudo
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- it respects normal user permissions and SIP
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- interactive deletion requires an extra confirmation sequence
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- deletions route through Trash/Finder behavior rather than direct permanent removal
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Code at `cmd/analyze/*.go`.
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Code lives under `cmd/analyze/*.go`.
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## Timeouts
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## Timeouts and Hang Resistance
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Network volume checks timeout after 5s (NFS/SMB/AFP can hang forever). mdfind searches get 10s. SQLite vacuum gets 20s, skipped if Mail/Safari/Messages is open. dyld cache rebuild gets 180s, skipped if done in the last 24h.
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`lib/core/timeout.sh` uses this fallback order:
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`brew_uninstall_cask()` treats exit code 124 as timeout failure, returns immediately.
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1. `gtimeout` / `timeout`
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2. a Perl helper with process-group cleanup
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3. a shell fallback
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`app_support_item_size_bytes` calculation leverages direct `stat -f%z` checks and uses `du` only for directories, combined with strict timeout protections to avoid process hangs.
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Current notable timeouts in security-relevant paths:
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Font cache rebuilding (`opt_font_cache_rebuild`) safely aborts if explicit browser processes (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Arc, etc.) are detected, preventing GPU cache corruption and rendering bugs.
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- orphan/Spotlight `mdfind` checks: 2s
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- LaunchServices rebuild during uninstall: 10s / 15s bounded steps
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- Homebrew uninstall cask flow: 300s default, extended to 600s or 900s for large apps
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- Application Support sizing: direct file `stat`, bounded `du` for directories
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See `lib/core/timeout.sh:run_with_timeout()`.
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Additional safety behavior:
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## User Config
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- `brew_uninstall_cask()` treats exit code `124` as timeout failure and returns failure immediately
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- font cache rebuild is skipped while browsers are running
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- project-cache discovery and scans use strict timeouts to avoid whole-home stalls
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Put paths in `~/.config/mole/whitelist`, one per line:
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## User Configuration
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Protected paths can be added to `~/.config/mole/whitelist`, one path per line.
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Example:
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```bash
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# exact matches only
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/Users/me/important-cache
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~/Library/Application Support/MyApp
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```
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These paths are protected from all operations.
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Exact path protection is preferred over pattern-style broad deletion rules.
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Run `mo clean --dry-run` or `mo optimize --dry-run` to preview what would happen without actually doing it.
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Use `--dry-run` before destructive operations when validating new cleanup behavior.
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## Testing
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Security-sensitive cleanup paths are covered by BATS regression tests, including:
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There is no dedicated `tests/security.bats`. Security-relevant behavior is covered by targeted BATS suites, including:
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- `tests/clean_core.bats`
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- `tests/clean_user_core.bats`
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- `tests/clean_dev_caches.bats`
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- `tests/clean_system_maintenance.bats`
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- `tests/clean_apps.bats`
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- `tests/purge.bats`
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- `tests/core_safe_functions.bats`
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- `tests/optimize.bats`
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**System Memory Reports** computation uses bulk `find -exec stat` to avoid bash loop child-process limits on corrupted systems.
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`bin/clean.sh` dry-run export temp files rely on tracked temp lifecycle (`create_temp_file()` + trap cleanup) to avoid orphan temp artifacts.
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Background spinner logic interacts directly with `/dev/tty` and guarantees robust termination signals handling via trap mechanisms.
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Latest local verification for this release branch:
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- `bats tests/clean_core.bats` passed (12/12)
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- `bats tests/clean_user_core.bats` passed (13/13)
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- `bats tests/clean_dev_caches.bats` passed (8/8)
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- `bats tests/clean_system_maintenance.bats` passed (40/40)
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- `bats tests/purge.bats tests/core_safe_functions.bats` passed (67/67)
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Run tests:
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Local verification used for the current branch includes:
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```bash
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bats tests/ # all
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bats tests/security.bats # security only
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bats tests/clean_core.bats tests/clean_user_core.bats tests/clean_dev_caches.bats tests/clean_system_maintenance.bats tests/purge.bats tests/core_safe_functions.bats tests/clean_apps.bats tests/optimize.bats
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bash -n lib/core/base.sh lib/clean/apps.sh tests/clean_apps.bats tests/optimize.bats
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```
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CI runs shellcheck and go vet on every push.
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CI additionally runs shell and Go validation on push.
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## Dependencies
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System binaries we use are all SIP protected: `plutil` (plist validation), `tmutil` (Time Machine), `dscacheutil` (cache rebuild), `diskutil` (volume info).
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Primary Go dependencies are pinned in `go.mod`, including:
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Go deps: bubbletea v0.23+, lipgloss v0.6+, gopsutil v3.22+, xxhash v2.2+. All MIT/BSD licensed. Versions are pinned, no CVEs. Binaries built via GitHub Actions.
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- `github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea v1.3.10`
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- `github.com/charmbracelet/lipgloss v1.1.0`
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- `github.com/shirou/gopsutil/v4 v4.26.2`
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- `github.com/cespare/xxhash/v2 v2.3.0`
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System tooling relies mainly on Apple-provided binaries and standard macOS utilities such as:
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- `tmutil`
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- `diskutil`
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- `plutil`
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- `launchctl`
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- `osascript`
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- `find`
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- `stat`
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Dependency vulnerability status should be checked separately from this document.
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## Limitations
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System cache cleanup needs sudo, first time you'll get a password prompt. Orphan files wait 60 days before cleanup, use `mo uninstall` to delete manually if you're in a hurry. No undo, gone is gone, use dry-run first. Only recognizes English names, localized app names might be missed, but falls back to bundle ID.
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Won't touch: documents, media files, password managers, keychains, configs under `/etc`, browser history/cookies, git repos.
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- Cleanup is destructive. There is no undo.
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- Generic orphan data waits 30 days before automatic cleanup.
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- Claude VM orphan cleanup waits 7 days before automatic cleanup.
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- Time Machine safety windows are hour-based, not day-based, and remain more conservative.
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- Localized app names may still be missed in some heuristic paths, though bundle IDs are preferred where available.
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- Users who want immediate removal of app data should use explicit uninstall flows rather than waiting for orphan cleanup.
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