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How to remove developer folders.

By Grant and Brad, who make Pangalin's apps · Updated 10 October 2026

Editors, containers and command-line tools often keep their data in hidden folders in your home folder, outside ~/Library. Some, like VS Code's extensions or Docker's images, run to gigabytes. Here's how Pangalin Uninstaller deals with them when you uninstall the tool.

What it finds

• The app's hidden folders: folders that belong to the app at the top of your home folder, such as ~/.vscode, ~/.docker or ~/.ollama, and folders named after it inside ~/.config, ~/.cache, ~/.local/share and ~/.local/state.
• Never: it reads only folder names, and never offers or looks inside key and credential folders such as ~/.ssh, ~/.aws or ~/.gnupg, or shared toolchains such as ~/.npm or ~/.cargo.

Remove them with an uninstall

1. In Pangalin Uninstaller, click Apps, find the tool (for example Visual Studio Code) and click Uninstall….
2. In the review list, developer folders start unticked, with a note on what they hold. Removing VS Code's folder, for example, removes your installed extensions and resets the editor, and removing Docker's removes local images.
3. Tick a folder only if you're done with the tool for good, then click Move … to Trash. Undo puts it back.

Keeping the tool but want the space back? Use the tool's own clean-up instead. Docker, for example, has Troubleshoot › Clean up data and docker system prune.

Doing it by hand

1. In Finder, open your home folder and press ⇧⌘. (full stop) to show hidden folders.
2. Look for the tool's folder at the top level (like .vscode), and inside .config, .cache and .local.
3. Drag only folders clearly named after the tool to the Trash. Leave .ssh, .aws, .gnupg, .zshrc and other files you don't recognise alone.
4. Press ⇧⌘. again to hide them.

Related guides

• Uninstall an app completely
• Undo a removal

Checked against Pangalin Uninstaller 1.6.3, 10 October 2026.