A researcher's Mac: papers, datasets, LaTeX, and three versions of MATLAB
Academic work fills a Mac with reference libraries, TeX installs, analysis software and datasets. A map of where each lives and what can move off.
Research work accumulates in layers: every paper you have read, the typesetting system for writing them, the analysis software, and the data. Each layer has its own hidden folder and its own way of growing.
Where it goes
| Layer | Usually | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Reference manager and PDFs | 1 to 20 GB | Zotero storage |
| LaTeX | 5 GB or more per year installed | MacTeX |
| MATLAB, Mathematica | 10 GB or more per release | MATLAB, Mathematica |
| R and Python environments | Several GB | R and RStudio, conda |
| Notebooks and datasets | Anything | Jupyter and datasets |
| Scans and PDFs | Several GB | Reduce PDF size |
Quick check
du -sh ~/Zotero /usr/local/texlive/* /Applications/MATLAB_R*.app ~/Library/R ~/miniconda3 ~/anaconda3 ~/opt/anaconda3 2>/dev/nullWhat to move off the Mac
- Raw datasets you have finished processing: keep them on an external drive or your institution's storage, with a note of where.
- Completed projects, including their data and outputs.
- Old software releases, once your code runs on the current one.
For heavier data work: Mac storage for data scientists. Students: Mac storage for students.
Common questions
What takes up space on a researcher's Mac?
Reference libraries full of PDFs, LaTeX installs, analysis software like MATLAB, Python and R environments, and datasets.
Where should academics keep old datasets?
On an external drive or institutional storage, following your institution's data rules. Keep a note of where each dataset lives.
How big is a LaTeX install on a Mac?
A full MacTeX is several GB, and each yearly version installs alongside the previous one.