diff --git a/lib/core/base.sh b/lib/core/base.sh
index d097cff..be82a09 100644
--- a/lib/core/base.sh
+++ b/lib/core/base.sh
@@ -30,16 +30,15 @@ readonly NC="${ESC}[0m"
 readonly ICON_CONFIRM="◎"
 readonly ICON_ADMIN="⚙"
 readonly ICON_SUCCESS="✓"
-readonly ICON_ERROR="☻"
+readonly ICON_ERROR="☹︎"
+readonly ICON_WARNING="☺︎"
 readonly ICON_EMPTY="○"
 readonly ICON_SOLID="●"
 readonly ICON_LIST="•"
 readonly ICON_ARROW="➤"
-readonly ICON_WARNING="☻"
+readonly ICON_DRY_RUN="→"
 readonly ICON_NAV_UP="↑"
 readonly ICON_NAV_DOWN="↓"
-readonly ICON_NAV_LEFT="←"
-readonly ICON_NAV_RIGHT="→"
 
 # ============================================================================
 # Global Configuration Constants
@@ -53,6 +52,8 @@ readonly MOLE_LOG_AGE_DAYS=7             # Log retention (days)
 readonly MOLE_CRASH_REPORT_AGE_DAYS=7    # Crash report retention (days)
 readonly MOLE_SAVED_STATE_AGE_DAYS=7     # Saved state retention (days)
 readonly MOLE_TM_BACKUP_SAFE_HOURS=48    # TM backup safety window (hours)
+readonly MOLE_MAX_DS_STORE_FILES=500     # Max .DS_Store files to clean per scan
+readonly MOLE_MAX_ORPHAN_ITERATIONS=100  # Max iterations for orphaned app data scan
 
 # ============================================================================
 # Seasonal Functions
@@ -566,3 +567,268 @@ note_activity() {
         SECTION_ACTIVITY=1
     fi
 }
+
+# Start a section spinner with optional message
+# Usage: start_section_spinner "message"
+start_section_spinner() {
+    local message="${1:-Scanning...}"
+    stop_inline_spinner 2> /dev/null || true
+    if [[ -t 1 ]]; then
+        MOLE_SPINNER_PREFIX="  " start_inline_spinner "$message"
+    fi
+}
+
+# Stop spinner and clear the line
+# Usage: stop_section_spinner
+stop_section_spinner() {
+    stop_inline_spinner 2> /dev/null || true
+    if [[ -t 1 ]]; then
+        echo -ne "\r\033[K" >&2
+    fi
+}
+
+# Safe terminal line clearing with terminal type detection
+# Usage: safe_clear_lines <num_lines> [tty_device]
+# Returns: 0 on success, 1 if terminal doesn't support ANSI
+safe_clear_lines() {
+    local lines="${1:-1}"
+    local tty_device="${2:-/dev/tty}"
+
+    # Use centralized ANSI support check (defined below)
+    # Note: This forward reference works because functions are parsed before execution
+    is_ansi_supported 2>/dev/null || return 1
+
+    # Clear lines one by one (more reliable than multi-line sequences)
+    local i
+    for ((i=0; i<lines; i++)); do
+        printf "\033[1A\r\033[K" > "$tty_device" 2>/dev/null || return 1
+    done
+
+    return 0
+}
+
+# Safe single line clear with fallback
+# Usage: safe_clear_line [tty_device]
+safe_clear_line() {
+    local tty_device="${1:-/dev/tty}"
+
+    # Use centralized ANSI support check
+    is_ansi_supported 2>/dev/null || return 1
+
+    printf "\r\033[K" > "$tty_device" 2>/dev/null || return 1
+    return 0
+}
+
+# Update progress spinner if enough time has elapsed
+# Usage: update_progress_if_needed <completed> <total> <last_update_time_var> [interval]
+# Example: update_progress_if_needed "$completed" "$total" last_progress_update 2
+# Returns: 0 if updated, 1 if skipped
+update_progress_if_needed() {
+    local completed="$1"
+    local total="$2"
+    local last_update_var="$3"  # Name of variable holding last update time
+    local interval="${4:-2}"     # Default: update every 2 seconds
+
+    # Get current time
+    local current_time=$(date +%s)
+
+    # Get last update time from variable
+    local last_time
+    eval "last_time=\${$last_update_var:-0}"
+
+    # Check if enough time has elapsed
+    if [[ $((current_time - last_time)) -ge $interval ]]; then
+        # Update the spinner with progress
+        stop_section_spinner
+        start_section_spinner "Scanning items... ($completed/$total)"
+
+        # Update the last_update_time variable
+        eval "$last_update_var=$current_time"
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    return 1
+}
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Spinner Stack Management (prevents nesting issues)
+# ============================================================================
+
+# Global spinner stack
+declare -a MOLE_SPINNER_STACK=()
+
+# Push current spinner state onto stack
+# Usage: push_spinner_state
+push_spinner_state() {
+    local current_state=""
+
+    # Save current spinner PID if running
+    if [[ -n "${MOLE_SPINNER_PID:-}" ]] && kill -0 "$MOLE_SPINNER_PID" 2>/dev/null; then
+        current_state="running:$MOLE_SPINNER_PID"
+    else
+        current_state="stopped"
+    fi
+
+    MOLE_SPINNER_STACK+=("$current_state")
+    debug_log "Pushed spinner state: $current_state (stack depth: ${#MOLE_SPINNER_STACK[@]})"
+}
+
+# Pop and restore spinner state from stack
+# Usage: pop_spinner_state
+pop_spinner_state() {
+    if [[ ${#MOLE_SPINNER_STACK[@]} -eq 0 ]]; then
+        debug_log "Warning: Attempted to pop from empty spinner stack"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    # Stack depth safety check
+    if [[ ${#MOLE_SPINNER_STACK[@]} -gt 10 ]]; then
+        debug_log "Warning: Spinner stack depth excessive (${#MOLE_SPINNER_STACK[@]}), possible leak"
+    fi
+
+    local last_idx=$((${#MOLE_SPINNER_STACK[@]} - 1))
+    local state="${MOLE_SPINNER_STACK[$last_idx]}"
+
+    # Remove from stack (Bash 3.2 compatible way)
+    # Instead of unset, rebuild array without last element
+    local -a new_stack=()
+    local i
+    for ((i=0; i<last_idx; i++)); do
+        new_stack+=("${MOLE_SPINNER_STACK[$i]}")
+    done
+    MOLE_SPINNER_STACK=("${new_stack[@]}")
+
+    debug_log "Popped spinner state: $state (remaining depth: ${#MOLE_SPINNER_STACK[@]})"
+
+    # Restore state if needed
+    if [[ "$state" == running:* ]]; then
+        # Previous spinner was running - we don't restart it automatically
+        # This is intentional to avoid UI conflicts
+        :
+    fi
+
+    return 0
+}
+
+# Safe spinner start with stack management
+# Usage: safe_start_spinner <message>
+safe_start_spinner() {
+    local message="${1:-Working...}"
+
+    # Push current state
+    push_spinner_state
+
+    # Stop any existing spinner
+    stop_section_spinner 2>/dev/null || true
+
+    # Start new spinner
+    start_section_spinner "$message"
+}
+
+# Safe spinner stop with stack management
+# Usage: safe_stop_spinner
+safe_stop_spinner() {
+    # Stop current spinner
+    stop_section_spinner 2>/dev/null || true
+
+    # Pop previous state
+    pop_spinner_state || true
+}
+
+# ============================================================================
+# Terminal Compatibility Checks
+# ============================================================================
+
+# Check if terminal supports ANSI escape codes
+# Usage: is_ansi_supported
+# Returns: 0 if supported, 1 if not
+is_ansi_supported() {
+    # Check if running in interactive terminal
+    [[ -t 1 ]] || return 1
+
+    # Check TERM variable
+    [[ -n "${TERM:-}" ]] || return 1
+
+    # Check for known ANSI-compatible terminals
+    case "$TERM" in
+        xterm*|vt100|vt220|screen*|tmux*|ansi|linux|rxvt*|konsole*)
+            return 0
+            ;;
+        dumb|unknown)
+            return 1
+            ;;
+        *)
+            # Check terminfo database if available
+            if command -v tput >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+                # Test if terminal supports colors (good proxy for ANSI support)
+                local colors=$(tput colors 2>/dev/null || echo "0")
+                [[ "$colors" -ge 8 ]] && return 0
+            fi
+            return 1
+            ;;
+    esac
+}
+
+# Get terminal capability info
+# Usage: get_terminal_info
+get_terminal_info() {
+    local info="Terminal: ${TERM:-unknown}"
+
+    if is_ansi_supported; then
+        info+=" (ANSI supported)"
+
+        if command -v tput >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            local cols=$(tput cols 2>/dev/null || echo "?")
+            local lines=$(tput lines 2>/dev/null || echo "?")
+            local colors=$(tput colors 2>/dev/null || echo "?")
+            info+=" ${cols}x${lines}, ${colors} colors"
+        fi
+    else
+        info+=" (ANSI not supported)"
+    fi
+
+    echo "$info"
+}
+
+# Validate terminal environment before running
+# Usage: validate_terminal_environment
+# Returns: 0 if OK, 1 with warning if issues detected
+validate_terminal_environment() {
+    local warnings=0
+
+    # Check if TERM is set
+    if [[ -z "${TERM:-}" ]]; then
+        log_warning "TERM environment variable not set"
+        ((warnings++))
+    fi
+
+    # Check if running in a known problematic terminal
+    case "${TERM:-}" in
+        dumb)
+            log_warning "Running in 'dumb' terminal - limited functionality"
+            ((warnings++))
+            ;;
+        unknown)
+            log_warning "Terminal type unknown - may have display issues"
+            ((warnings++))
+            ;;
+    esac
+
+    # Check terminal size if available
+    if command -v tput >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        local cols=$(tput cols 2>/dev/null || echo "80")
+        if [[ "$cols" -lt 60 ]]; then
+            log_warning "Terminal width ($cols cols) is narrow - output may wrap"
+            ((warnings++))
+        fi
+    fi
+
+    # Report compatibility
+    if [[ $warnings -eq 0 ]]; then
+        debug_log "Terminal environment validated: $(get_terminal_info)"
+        return 0
+    else
+        debug_log "Terminal compatibility warnings: $warnings"
+        return 1
+    fi
+}