Linux Mint Forums

Hi!
What's the best way to keep Mint clean. I mean, how to delete unneeded files, temp files, etc. In win you can use different software tools such as ccleaner, etc. I know linux is much cleaner but, if possible, I would like to be sure it is clean.

Thanks,
Glore2002.-

There is not much need for this
Basically it's only the /temp folder (which you better leave untouched) and the apt cache that needs cleaning
For the apt cache use man apt-get to see the alternatives. If you have decent space you can forget about it but it grows - I have at the moment about 500 MB so it takes a while to become a problem

Your home folder can be cleaned once in a while. Especially look at .thumbnails, that has a tendency to build up if you have a few pictures and movies on your computer. Other than that you can remove obsolete packages from your local repository by running: Usually don't clean out that much, but a penny saved....
EDIT:
Went searching through my old topics, found this nifty little command: Change /home/user/ to your home folder. This will list all hidden folders in your home directory and sort them according to size. Then you can go through them and see if anyone needs a bit of cleaning.
Note:
Be careful, hidden folders in home usually contain configuration files, if you delete the entire folder you can loose all customization and maybe even break the application (most just rebuild the configuration to standard values though).

Hello,

How bout configuration files for applications that have been uninstalled? For example, I uninstalled Tomboy and later found a .tomboy folder and configuration file in my home folder. I would have thought these would have been deleted when I uninstalled.

Thanks.

APT keeps configuration files, unless you ask it not to, then it installs faster if you decide to delete it. If you want to, you can remove them, just be sure they belong to applications you have deleted..

Ah, I see. I uninstalled by right-clicking and selecting Uninstall from the mintMenu. So instead, I should have done "apt purge tomboy" from the CLI. Is there a preferred method to uninstall in Linux Mint? Thanks again for the feedback.

I prefer using from CLI, since that handles dependencies as well. Not sure if there is an recommended way, it is all a matter of preference. I have never used mintMenu to remove applications (even been a while since I last used mintMenu), so I can't tell you how that remove applications, you might want to try: to see if you have some uneeded libraries laying about..

As for removing configuration files, it is not really necessary, unless you keep installing and removing software. They don't really do anything with out the host application, and they are usually well below 1 MB in size.

I understand the config files pose no harm, I just don't like droppings. Thanks for the tips. I'll run the autoremove.

MagnusB wrote:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get autoremove

to see if you have some uneeded libraries laying about..

I use this command all the time, and not for just after uninstalling something. I use it after installing updates as well, because sometimes a new update will render an existing package obsolete.

Lantesh wrote:

MagnusB wrote:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get autoremove

to see if you have some uneeded libraries laying about..

I use this command all the time, and not for just after uninstalling something. I use it after installing updates as well, because sometimes a new update will render an existing package obsolete.

aptitude makes that command obsolete, more or less, take a look at this excellent howto

MagnusB wrote:aptitude makes that command obsolete, more or less, take a look at this excellent howto

Nice tutorial. I will certainly be reading it.