Macroscope

Macroscope

A local-first Mac audit tool by Razortype that uses nine native probes and five AI auditors to preview, classify, and block deletions of files still needed by active apps.

mac audit toolAI file protectiondeletion preventionlocal-first security
Open site
image for MacroscopeOpen site

What is Macroscope?

Macroscope is a local-first audit tool for macOS, built by Razortype. It uses nine native probes and five AI auditors to preview, classify, and block deletions of files that are still needed by active apps. Every deletion is previewed, classified by identity, and refused if it belongs to an app you still use. The tool is free, open-source (AGPL-3.0), and designed for Apple Silicon.

Application scenarios

  • Cleaning misplaced caches

    Macroscope identifies cache directories (e.g., 771 MB from Brave Browser) that are safe to remove but prevents deletion of companion vendor folders containing profile data.

  • Recovering disk space

    It scans for stale logs, old downloads, and other orphaned files, showing total reclaimable size (e.g., 3.6 GB across 14 paths).

  • Auditing installed apps

    It cross-references leftover directories against installed .app bundles, classifying them as COMPANION, ORPHANED, or INVESTIGATE.

  • Safe cleanup for developers

    Blocks deletion of files belonging to still-active tools like Brave Software or Figma, even if the user intends to clean them.

  • On-device AI analysis

    Probes run locally by default; users can optionally keep AI on-device using Ollama.

  • Restoring deleted items

    Items are moved to Trash (not rm -rf), so they can be restored from Finder until Trash is emptied.

Core Features

  • Identity graph

    Every leftover directory is cross-referenced against installed .app bundles by bundle ID, vendor alias, display name, and executable, producing a classification rather than a guess.

  • Nine native probes

    Uses native macOS commands (du, lsof, launchctl, mdls, ps, codesign, sw_vers, sysctl, ifconfig) — no Homebrew or Python required.

  • Five parallel AI auditors

    Each AI auditor focuses on one slice: disk, startup, lifecycle, files, and artifacts.

  • Trash-only deletion

    Macroscope never uses rm -rf; items can be restored from Finder until you empty Trash.

  • Zero outbound by default

    Probes run locally; AI can be kept on-device with Ollama.

  • Five AI providers

    Supports Gemini (default), Claude CLI, Anthropic, OpenAI, and Ollama. API keys are stored in Keychain.

  • Five audit views

    Overview (disk capacity, finding summary, severity distribution), Findings (ranked by severity with path, size, identity verdict), Apps (installed bundles cross-referenced), Files (raw file-level listing), and more.

  • Detailed AI rationale per finding

    Each finding shows why a file is safe to delete or blocked, e.g., "cache directories belong to Brave Browser, which is installed and actively used — safe to remove, but companion folder should not be touched."

Target users

Macroscope is for macOS power users, developers, and system administrators who want to safely reclaim disk space without accidentally deleting files needed by active applications. It's especially useful for anyone who has been burned by aggressive cleaner tools that remove companion data or profile folders.

How to use Macroscope?

Download the app from the official website (macOS only, Apple Silicon). It auto-updates. Once launched, the tool runs nine native probes and five AI auditors automatically. You review findings in five views (Overview, Findings, Apps, Files, etc.), each with severity rankings and AI rationale. To delete, choose "Move to Trash" — items can be restored from Finder until you empty Trash. For on-device AI, pick Ollama as the provider.

Pricing and free trial

Macroscope is free and open-source (AGPL-3.0). No pricing or free trial tiers are mentioned on the website.

Effect review

Macroscope delivers exactly what it promises: a safe, local-first audit that prevents accidental deletion of app-essential files. The identity graph and AI rationale provide clear, actionable explanations for each finding, which is a major step up from guesswork-based cleaners. The five views offer a thorough, layered look at your disk, and the trash-only approach gives a safety net. For a free, open-source tool with native macOS integration and no outbound data by default, it's a compelling choice for anyone serious about cleaning their Mac without risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Macroscope?
Macroscope is a local-first Mac audit tool by Razortype that uses nine native probes and five AI auditors to preview, classify, and block deletions of files still needed by active apps.
How does Macroscope prevent accidental file deletion?
Macroscope uses nine native probes to scan your system and five AI auditors to classify files. If a file is still needed by an active app, Macroscope blocks its deletion and alerts you.
Is Macroscope cloud-dependent?
No, Macroscope is local-first, meaning all scanning and AI processing happens on your Mac without sending data to the cloud.
What are the 'native probes' and 'AI auditors'?
Native probes are built-in macOS tools that inspect file usage, while AI auditors are machine learning models that classify whether a file is critical for active applications.
Can Macroscope recover deleted files?
No, Macroscope focuses on prevention—it previews and blocks deletions of files still in use, rather than recovering already deleted files.
Is Macroscope free to use?
Pricing details are not specified in the description. Please check Razortype's official website for the latest pricing information.

Macroscope - AI Tool Detail

A local-first Mac audit tool by Razortype that uses nine native probes and five AI auditors to preview, classify, and block deletions of files still needed by active apps.

Category：Automation

Visit Link：https://macroscope.razortype.com/

Tags：mac audit tool、AI file protection、deletion prevention、local-first security