Mac 101: Keep an eye on the trash for auto-updated apps

More Mac 101, our series of tips and tricks for novice Mac users.

This isn't so much an actionable "Here's how to accomplish X" sort of Mac 101 as it is a "Aha, so that's what's going on there" reminder. If you've ever been prompted by one of your favorite applications to download and install an updated version, chances are you've been served by the Sparkle framework. Andy Matuschak's open-source updater code is at work in hundreds of Mac apps, saving you the aggravation of having to go and track down new versions yourself. It's a beautiful thing.

One of the nice features of the Sparkle approach to updates is that the code gracefully moves the old version out of the way when the new version is installed. Those old versions may wind up in your Trash, and if you have a program like Webkit installed (which commits new versions every night) those expired builds may soon represent a sizable bit of disk space. A quick Empty Trash will take care of the old stock. (If you're an iPhone or iPod touch user, the .ipa files accumulating in the Trash are the previous versions of your installed iPhone apps.)

If your Trash is sporting several programs (as in the screenshot above), but you don't remember throwing them away, don't worry; you're just staying current.

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Mac 101

More Mac 101, our series of tips and tricks for novice Mac users. This isn't so much an actionable "Here's how to accomplish X" sort of...

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debruyn.faan

Hi,

I am still with Mac OS 10.4 (But I will be upgrading within a week or so), but I has always wondered how I can get the file size and date listed in finder and to be able to sort upon it, as in your picture of the Trash. Is it a Leopard feature, or is it available in Tiger as well?

Thanks

March 08 2010 at 3:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ep2002

Ouch! You guys are harsh!!!
Just an example on a related note... My brother called me last night about an iPhoto question. He was wondering why it kept the old folders of the photos in its database after he deleted them and he started to manually correct them.
RED FLAG!!!
Do not touch the iPhoto database because it may get corrupted. Luckly nothing happened to the photos, but he was still wondering why the "behind te scenes" stuff was so sloppy.
I told him not to worry what is going on and stop micromanaging the app.
Finally I asked him if he has tried to empty the Trash with in iPhoto. No, he said. Then he emptied the trash and the database was ok again
This is a recent windows convert, and a college educated guy. So my point is that these tips are relevent and important to some.
Hey it helped out my little bro!!!
Thanks Michael.
:-)

December 09 2009 at 4:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

kajoob

TUAW Tip of the Day - Empty your trash.

wow.

December 09 2009 at 4:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Ned

I'm sorry guys, but really.. not publishing an article is better than publishing something that's just.. stupid.. I mean come on, the icon changes when something is in there! This isn't mac 101, this is mac "special students" class.

Next on Mac 101: double clicking.

December 09 2009 at 12:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to Ned's comment

Michael Rose

That wasn't the point, Ned. Novice Mac users might well wonder what the heck all those apps are doing in the trash. Yes, the icon changes when there's something in it, but if things are going in that you didn't explicitly put there yourself, it's worth clarifying why.

If you think it's too simple, the 101s aren't meant for you.

December 09 2009 at 1:41 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Ned

Michael, I guess you do have a point there.. sorry for being harsh.

December 09 2009 at 8:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Rob47

My comp has started automatically deleting things when i drag it to the bin instead of keeping it there waiting for me to delete it. Does anyone know why/how i can fix it? im running SL

December 09 2009 at 12:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Rob47's comment

Jonathan A

Saw something about this on MacFixIt. Be careful with their solution, though. A misused "sudo rm" command can be destructive.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10410978-263.html

December 09 2009 at 4:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply