Get your bytes back.
A fast terminal UI that reclaims disk space by finding and sweeping the
regenerable build, dependency, and cache directories that pile up across your
projects — node_modules, .next, .turbo, target, dist, and friends.
- Full-screen dashboard — pick which directory names to sweep, scan a tree, and review every match before anything is deleted.
- Persistent, customizable targets — add your own directory names (saved forever) and remove built-ins you never want to see again.
- A clear overview — found directories are grouped by category with path, size, and file count, sorted biggest-first.
- Safe by default — everything is selected for you, but you opt out of any dir before deleting, and deletions go to the system trash unless you switch to permanent.
- Fast — parallel directory walking (jwalk + rayon) that prunes at every
match, so it scans your project tree, not the insides of
node_modules.
yay -S byteback-bin # or: paru -S byteback-binnpm install -g byteback # or: pnpm add -g byteback / yarn global add bytebackThe prebuilt binary for your platform is delivered as a per-platform
optionalDependency (no install scripts), so it works the same across npm, pnpm,
and yarn. Provides both byteback and the short bb.
cargo install --git https://github.com/NeoLaner/byteback
# or, from a clone:
git clone https://github.com/NeoLaner/byteback.git && cd byteback && cargo install --path .You can build the AUR package straight from this repo without an AUR account:
git clone https://github.com/NeoLaner/byteback.git
cd byteback/packaging/aur && makepkg -sibyteback # scan the current directory
byteback ~/code # scan a specific directory
byteback --permanent # default to permanent deletion instead of trashThe dashboard walks you through it:
| Screen | Keys |
|---|---|
| Select targets | ↑↓ move · space toggle · a add a custom name · r remove a name · c change scan directory · enter scan |
| Review results | ↑↓ move · space opt a directory out · a all · n none · t/p trash / permanent · d delete · b back |
| Anywhere | q quit |
After deleting you get a summary of the space reclaimed (and anything that couldn't be removed).
Your custom names, hidden defaults, and last selection are stored at:
- Linux:
~/.config/byteback/config.toml - macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/byteback/config.toml - Windows:
%APPDATA%\byteback\config.toml
- Discover — walk the chosen directory, recording any folder whose name is a
target and not descending into it (a nested
node_modulesinside another is counted once, via the outer dir). - Measure — sum the size and file count of each match in parallel.
- Review & delete — you confirm the selection and disposal mode; matches go to the trash (recoverable) or are removed permanently.
MIT — see LICENSE.