---
name: system-memory-cleanup
description: "Inspect and clean macOS CPU and memory usage. Use for a slow Mac, resource hogs, orphaned processes, high CPU, memory pressure, or process cleanup."
---

# System Cleanup

Monitor system resources and clean up wasteful processes on macOS.

## Quick Commands

### Show top processes
```bash
bash scripts/top-processes.sh
```

### Find orphaned claude CLI processes
```bash
bash scripts/find-orphan-claude.sh
```

### Kill orphaned claude CLI processes (preserves active ghostty sessions)
```bash
bash scripts/kill-orphan-claude.sh
```

## Manual Commands

### Top CPU consumers
```bash
ps -arcwwwxo "pid %cpu %mem rss command" | head -20
```

### Top memory consumers
```bash
ps -amcwwwxo "pid %cpu %mem rss command" | head -20
```

### Total memory usage
```bash
ps -axo rss= | awk '{sum+=$1} END {printf "%.1f GB\n", sum/1024/1024}'
```

### Kill all processes by name
```bash
pkill -f "Google Chrome"
pkill -f "chrome-headless-shell"
```

### Force kill (if regular kill doesn't work)
```bash
pkill -9 -f "Process Name"
```

## Common Cleanup Targets

| Process | What it is | Safe to kill? |
|---------|-----------|---------------|
| claude | Claude CLI sessions | Yes, if orphaned |
| chrome-headless-shell | Headless Chrome (MCP) | Yes |
| Google Chrome | Browser | Yes |
| node | Node.js processes | Check what's using it |
| Electron apps | Various apps | Depends on app |

## Workflow

1. Run `bash scripts/top-processes.sh` to see what's consuming resources
2. Identify targets (orphaned processes, unused apps)
3. Kill specific processes with `pkill -f "name"` or use the cleanup scripts
4. Verify cleanup with another top-processes check

## Notes

- Claude CLI processes become orphaned when terminal tabs are closed without exiting claude first
- Always use `/exit` or Ctrl+C before closing terminal tabs
- WindowServer, launchd, and kernel_task are essential system processes - never kill them