Role
Product design · AI build
Timeline
2026.10
Tools
Figma, Claude Code
Outcome
In review · GitHub
Summary
01 · Problem
When a Mac slows down, people want to know what to do, not more data.
It started with my own Mac. With lots of apps and tabs open, it got slow and hot. Monitoring apps didn't help, and I had no idea how to fix it.
So I started asking AI: could the data be shown in a simple, clear way, with tips on what to do next, so anyone without a tech background could understand it? That's how this project began.
Competitor analysis
Most similar apps only show data with no explanation, so they're really made for experts. Some haven't been updated in years, and the ones with safe cleanup features usually need a subscription.
BuzzMem doesn't try to beat pro tools on data. Instead, it keeps memory info simple and easy for everyone to understand, and gives safe tips so people can keep working.
02 · Research
What I expected vs. what users told me
The 5 people I talked to work in design and marketing. They use a Mac for 4+ hours a day, don't code, and have all dealt with a slow computer. My guess was that closing apps would be the worst moment. But when they rated each step of their last slowdown from 1 to 5, the stress started much earlier, at "finding the cause". That's where they're out of their comfort zone and don't know where to look.
Each step now gets its own kind of help. Normally, the menu bar quietly shows a pressure number. When things get tight, the icon changes color first. Within 3 seconds you can see what's using your memory, and then you get a list of apps that are safe to close. You're never left guessing.
03 · Design Principles
Keep it simple, and only interrupt when it matters
These principles also became rules that Claude Code reads every time, so the AI and I judged every screen the same way.
04 · Key Decisions
#1 One focus per screen, in plain words
For the low point of "finding the cause": know within 3 seconds how serious it is and what's using memory.
1
See your status at a glance
One line for the status, one line for advice.
2
Memory pressure comes first
The percentage inside the hexagon shows memory pressure.
3
Details in small text, terms in ⓘ
Extra data like Swap is shown in small text. Click ⓘ if you want to learn more.
4
A simpler trend chart
A dashed line shows "Slowdown above 80%", and you can see the past hour.
5
Other info takes a back seat
Uptime, temperature, CPU and disk info sit at the bottom for when you need them.
6
Top 3 apps by CPU and memory
Processes that belong to one app are added together, and only the top 3 are shown.
Three states, each with its own action and color, as simple as a traffic light
#2 All the cleanup tools on one page
For the low point of "fixing it": people worry about closing the wrong thing or losing files, so every cleanup action is safe and can be undone.
1
Show "Suggested" only when it really helps
The suggestion only appears when memory pressure is over 50% and there are apps you can close.
2
The button only scans first
Clicking it only lists apps you can close. Nothing gets closed automatically.
3
Show how much you'll save, then let you decide
Users see what they'll get back before they decide to do it.
4
Startup items are only checked
It lists the programs that open when your Mac starts, so users know what's running in the background.
5
Files are deleted only after you select them
Temporary files and large files are listed first. You select each one before deleting, files only go to the Trash, and you can restore them if you make a mistake.
Click the Scan button.
Large idle apps are listed, with how much memory each one uses.
Apps unused for 2+ hours are auto-selected. Users decide on the rest.
After you click Quit, the selected apps close the normal way. If there's unsaved work, you'll be asked first.
When it's done, it tells you which apps were closed and how much memory was freed.
Back on the Optimize tab, you can also see the memory you just saved.
#3 Stays quiet until you actually need it
The last thing you need is a monitoring tool that bugs you all day. You can see the status right in the menu bar. When it's green, there are no notifications at all. You only get one when memory starts getting tight, and you can turn alerts off in Settings.
#4 Find leftover files when an app goes to the Trash
Many apps leave settings and cache files behind after you delete them. When you drag an app to the Trash, BuzzMem notices and shows a window with the leftover files, so you can decide whether to remove them too.
1
Only shows up when leftovers are found
After an app is removed, BuzzMem looks for files it left behind. If it finds none, no window appears.
2
Pre-selected only when it's a sure match
Files with an exact ID match are selected for you. Files with only a similar name stay unselected, with a reminder to take a look first.
3
Everything goes to the Trash
Nothing is deleted right away. If you remove the wrong file, you can get it back from the Trash. You can also choose to deal with it later.
#5 Accessibility, aiming for WCAG 2.2 AAA
People open the panel when their Mac is slow and they're already stressed. Text that's hard to read or a screen that keeps moving only makes it worse. That's why I raised the contrast of every text color to 7:1 or higher, in both light and dark mode.
1.4.6 Contrast (Enhanced)
All text ≥ 7:1 in light and dark mode
3.1.3 Unusual Words
Technical terms like memory pressure and Swap have a plain ⓘ explanation
3.3.6 Error Prevention (All)
Scans only list items and never delete anything; removed files go to the Trash
2.3.3 Animation from Interactions
Follows the system's Reduce Motion setting and switches to simple fades
2.2.3、2.2.4、2.4.10
No time limits; alerts only appear when memory is really tight, and can be turned off
Secondary text contrast
6.7
7.6
AAA standard for normal text: 7:1 or higher
Tertiary text contrast
5.3
7.6
Meets the standard in both light and dark mode
05 · Brand
06 · Working with AI
My part was the product design. AI wrote the code.
BuzzMem was built with Claude Code, so I didn't need an engineer. My design turned into a real app that I use on my own Mac.
With an idea in mind, I talked through features with AI and asked for a first UI to look at. The result was very generic, just default system styles with no real design.
As we talked about more features, the AI just kept adding them in. It didn't think about the product as a whole, so the screens got longer and the tabs kept multiplying.
To fix this, the features went into two tabs, Monitor and Optimize, which is clearer for users. With the structure set, it was time to polish the UI.
Connecting Figma let the AI build the UI from my designs. On my side, I created the brand colors and set the order of information, so you always know what to look at first.
07 · Results
In App Store review
This project gave me the chance to go through the App Store review process myself. There were a few changes along the way, and it's now waiting for review.
One codebase,
two versions
The App Store version has to run in a sandbox, so it can't reach other apps or system settings. That's why I made two versions: one for the App Store and a full version on GitHub.
Full version on GitHub
Rankings of each app's memory and CPU use
Free up memory: select idle apps and quit them normally
Alerts: get notified when something stays busy in the background for over 5 minutes
Leftover files: clean everything up when you delete an app
Next: improving it with user feedback
There's a feedback form in the app's Settings, so users can share their thoughts directly. Their answers will decide what gets fixed next. Also on the list: more languages, so more people can use it, and a Mac desktop widget for quicker access.
Thanks for reading! The App Store version of BuzzMem is in review, and the full version is ready to download on GitHub. If your Mac often slows down too, give it a try. I'd love to hear what you think.