---
title: "Developer cache · MacMelon"
description: "A developer cache is data a build tool keeps so the next run is faster: npm, Gradle, Cargo, DerivedData. Smart Clean can include them."
url: "https://macmelon.com/glossary/developer-cache"
---

# Developer cache

Files a developer tool keeps so the next build or install can skip a download or a compile.

Compilers and package managers cache aggressively. The npm cache, Gradle's dependency cache, Cargo's downloaded crates, and Xcode's DerivedData are all developer caches. They are recreatable at the cost of time and bandwidth. They are also why a laptop that builds software fills up while the documents folder looks modest.

[Disk Housekeeper](https://macmelon.com/apps/disk-housekeeper) Smart Clean targets this set, plus node\_modules. Removal is previewed and goes to the Trash by default. The practical page is [Clean npm, Gradle, and Cargo caches](https://macmelon.com/use-cases/clean-developer-caches).

## Apps

[Make room for what matters. Clear clutter with confidence. ### Disk Housekeeper](https://macmelon.com/apps/disk-housekeeper)

## Related guides

[### How to clean developer files on macOS](https://macmelon.com/guides/how-to-clean-developer-files-on-macos)

## Related use cases

[### Clean npm, Gradle, and Cargo caches](https://macmelon.com/use-cases/clean-developer-caches)[### Clear Xcode DerivedData](https://macmelon.com/use-cases/clear-xcode-deriveddata)

## Related terms

[npm's on-disk store of package tarballs, reused by later installs. ### npm cache](https://macmelon.com/glossary/npm-cache)[Gradle's user-level store of dependencies and build outputs. ### Gradle cache](https://macmelon.com/glossary/gradle-cache)[Cargo's local copy of downloaded crates and related git checkouts. ### Cargo cache](https://macmelon.com/glossary/cargo-cache)[Disk Housekeeper's cleaner for developer caches and node\_modules, behind a preview. ### Smart Clean](https://macmelon.com/glossary/smart-clean)