Build notes / Aster
I made a free Mac app. It got nearly 8,000 download clicks in a day.
Meet Aster, a free Mac storage analyzer that helps you find large files, see their locations and review what goes to Trash.
You finish editing a video, hit export, and your Mac tells you there isn’t enough space. Now the job has changed. Before you can publish anything, you have to work out which files you can get rid of.
You open Downloads. There are old installers, a few ZIP files and folders with names that made sense three months ago. Some can probably go. Others might belong to a project you still need.
That gap between “my Mac is full” and “I know what I can remove” is what I built Aster to help with.
I’m Shivam, the creator behind BuildMeAI, where I share the apps I’m building with AI. Aster is my native Mac storage app. It shows what is taking up space, lets you inspect the files behind the numbers, and gives you a review step before anything moves to Trash. The current release is completely free.
A full Mac usually needs a closer look
A large file isn’t automatically a useless file. Your biggest folder might be the project you are working on right now. A much smaller folder might contain exports you no longer need.
macOS already gives you a useful starting point: System Settings → General → Storage. Apple’s guide to freeing up storage space on Mac explains the built-in categories and options. I’d check that first if you only need a quick overview.
Aster is useful when you want to explore a particular folder, compare file sizes and keep the full path in view while deciding what to remove.
Where Aster fits into a normal day
A creator with too many video exports
Say you have a project folder containing source footage, editing files and several exports: the first cut, a revised cut and the version you finally uploaded. You want to keep the project, but you don’t necessarily need every intermediate export.
Scan that folder and open Large files. With the biggest items at the top, you can inspect each export and its location. Keep the source material you still need; add only the files you have decided to remove to the cleanup queue.
If you want to keep something but rarely use it, moving it to an external drive may make more sense than deleting it. Aster can help you find it; the decision is still yours.
A developer moving between projects
Old projects and build caches can sit around long after you have switched to something else. Aster includes discovery for supported developer caches and logs, so you can inspect those locations alongside your other files.
A cache can still be useful. Removing one can mean waiting for an app to rebuild or download data again. Start with locations you recognize and leave anything you’re unsure about alone.
A Downloads folder that became permanent storage
You download an installer, use it once, and forget the disk image. A few weeks later, there are more installers, archives and copies of files you have already moved elsewhere.
A folder scan gives you a manageable place to start. Search by name or path, check the file details, and work through a few obvious candidates. You don’t need to clean the entire Mac in one sitting.
How to use Aster to find large files on your Mac
- Install Aster. Download it from the official Aster page, open the DMG and drag Aster into Applications. Launch it from there.
- Choose a folder. Click Scan folder and select somewhere useful, such as Downloads or a finished project. The scan depends on the access macOS allows.
- Explore the results. Use the storage map to see how space is distributed, or open Large files and sort by Largest first. You can filter by size or search a file name or path.
- Check before you queue. Select a file and read its full location. Use Reveal in Finder if you need more context. Choose Add to cleanup only for something you have decided to remove.
- Review the exact selection. Open Cleanup, remove anything you want to keep from the queue, and click Review for Trash. Check the paths and confirm the move when you are ready.
If you prefer seeing the interface first, there’s a 78-second Aster walkthrough on the website.
The review screen matters
I want the file name and its location to be visible when someone makes a cleanup decision. “This takes up space” is useful information. It doesn’t tell you whether the file matters to you.
Aster sends confirmed selections to macOS Trash and never empties it automatically. Moving something to Trash doesn’t immediately recover its storage space; that happens when you empty Trash yourself. Check what is there before taking that final step.
The app also discovers installed applications, supported caches and possible leftovers. “Possible” matters here: a related file may still be needed, and some applications require their own uninstallers. Aster does not promise to remove every trace of every app.
What you get for free
Aster 0.4.1 includes storage scanning, the visual map, large-file search, full paths, Finder actions, supported app and cache discovery, and reviewed cleanup. There is no account to create, license key to enter or checkout to complete.
It works on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 14 or later. There is one universal download, so you don’t need to choose a separate installer for your chip. The app is Developer ID signed and notarized by Apple.
File names, paths and scan results stay on your Mac. The website’s visitor and download counters are separate from the app’s local storage analysis; the privacy page explains both.
A few questions worth answering
Will Aster fix a slow Mac?
Aster helps you understand storage and choose files to remove. It does not promise a speed boost, repair hardware or replace a backup. The useful result is knowing what is taking up space and making an informed cleanup decision.
Can it delete all of System Data?
No. Apple uses System Data as a broad category, not a list of files that are all safe to delete. Aster can help you inspect supported files and cache locations, but it does not offer a blanket “delete System Data” button.
Is there a paid unlock?
All implemented features in the current release are free. The optional “Buy me a pizza” link supports development; it doesn’t unlock anything.
Try it on one folder
If your Mac is running low on storage, start with a folder you know. See what is there. Look at the largest files. You might find something obvious to remove, or decide that everything in that folder is worth keeping. Either way, you’ll have a clearer answer than a storage warning.
Download Aster for free at buildmeai.co/aster.
And if a part of the app feels confusing, tell me what you were trying to do. You can reach me at shivamrohillaa@gmail.com or @buildmeai on Instagram.