A system dashboard and cache cleaner for developer Macs
MacPulse shows what your Mac is doing. It also clears build caches you no longer need. It runs on Apple Silicon and Intel, and it is free.
What the dashboard shows
- Live vitals: the state of the machine as it runs.
- Ports: which process listens on each port, with a badge on processes that belong to AI tools. When a dev server will not start because its port is taken, you see the owner at once.
- Sentinel: spots AI agents and local models that kept running after their session closed.
- Vault: a shelf for command-line snippets.
Cache cleaning
MacPulse clears 14 cache categories, among them Xcode, Gradle and npm, which are the folders that grow during builds and installs. Before anything is deleted, it shows a dry-run preview and waits for your confirmation.
Protected paths
A built-in list of protected paths covers Documents, Desktop, SSH keys and .env files. The cleaner will not touch them, whatever the settings.
Why a dry run matters
A deletion is hard to undo. So MacPulse lists every item and removes nothing until you say yes.
Chrome extension
An optional Chrome extension gives quick access to the dashboard. The dashboard works without it.
Who it is for
MacPulse is built for developers whose disks fill with build output. Xcode, Gradle and npm leave caches behind, and AI tools can leave processes running after a session ends.
Also see: Product privacy notice, Product terms, All products
Questions people ask
Does it run on Intel Macs?
Yes, on both Apple Silicon and Intel.
Does it cost anything?
No. It is free to download and use.
What is Sentinel?
It lists AI-agent and local-model processes that kept running with no parent session.
Can it remove my personal files by mistake?
No. A fixed safety list protects Documents, Desktop, SSH keys and .env files.