dot_clean:tldr:4fea6

The command "dot_clean -f ${path-to-directory}" is used in macOS to clean up the metadata files in a directory that was originally copied from a non-macOS file system (e.g., a USB drive formatted for Windows).

Here's a breakdown of the command:

• "dot_clean" is the command itself. It is a built-in macOS command.
• "-f" is an option that forces dot_clean to perform its cleaning operation even if there are no inconsistencies or issues found. By using this option, the command will forcefully clean up the directory.
• "${path-to-directory}" is a placeholder representing the actual path to the directory you want to clean up. The path can be absolute (starting with '/') or relative to the current directory.

When you run this command in the Terminal, dot_clean scans the specified directory for .DSStore files, . files, and other related metadata files that macOS uses to keep track of folder attributes, custom icons, and file thumbnails. These files are often created when files are copied from a non-macOS file system.

The dot_clean command then matches and synchronizes the metadata files with their corresponding original files. If any inconsistencies or duplicates are found, dot_clean removes the unnecessary or incompatible metadata files.

Overall, this command is used to ensure that the copied directory on a macOS file system is clean and doesn't contain any unnecessary or incompatible metadata files.