AppZapper

AppZapper is a shareware application developed by Austin Sarner and Brian Ball for computers running Apple's macOS.

Description
The software is an utility which simplifies the method of removing software in macOS, which is typically dragging the application one wants to uninstall to the trash. By dragging and dropping an application to uninstall in AppZapper, the application searches for additional files residing in directories other than that of the original application, such as preference files and package receipts, the user is then able to select unwanted files and delete them. This helps reduce disk space usage and avoid leaving personal information behind. It can also play a "Zap" sound effect when completing these functions.

Apart from the core functionality of AppZapper, other features of the application include a safety system which protects system files and user designated applications from being deleted and a log of uninstalled applications.

Release history
AppZapper 1.0 was first announced on January 4, 2006 with support for Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger). Version 1.8 was announced on December 11, 2006 and added an "UnZap" feature to undo mistaken uninstallations.

AppZapper 2.0 was released in January 2010 with support for Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and a new "My Apps" feature to store serial numbers of owned applications. Version 2.0.3 requires Mac OS X 10.6.8 or later. Since it is distributed as shareware, an unregistered copy will deactivate itself after "zapping" five applications.

Articles

 * Interview: Austin Sarner, Developer Of AppZapper by Glenn Wolsey (2006-07-26, archived 2007-03-11)
 * AppZapper review at MacNN (2006-07-27, archived 2007-11-14)