[Utility] DeepPurge: A Native GTK3 Multi-Backend App Uninstaller & Junk Purger (Flatpak, Snap, DEB, AppImage)

Tutorials & Guides
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What is DeepPurge?

Coming from macOS (AppCleaner) or Windows (Revo Uninstaller), one of the biggest friction points on Linux is that removing an app via Software, APT, Flatpak, or Snap often leaves behind megabytes—or gigabytes—of orphaned configs in ~/.config, sandbox caches in ~/.var/app, model weights, stale systemd --user daemons, and orphaned .desktop launcher icons.

We built DeepPurge: a lightweight, native GTK3 tool tailored for Zorin OS that unifies application discovery across all packaging formats, lets you search them via a native top search bar, and completely wipes both the binaries and their residual configuration junk.

Key Features

  • Multi-Backend Discovery: Scans Flatpaks, Snaps, portable AppImages, native DEBs, and loose /usr/local/bin binaries in one unified table.
  • True Deep Scrub: Beyond running apt purge or flatpak uninstall --delete-data, it actively hunts and purges:
    • Orphaned desktop launchers and autostart entries (~/.local/share/applications, /usr/share/applications)### What is DeepPurge?
      Coming from macOS (AppCleaner) or Windows (Revo Uninstaller), one of the biggest friction points on Linux is that removing an app via Software, APT, Flatpak, or Snap often leaves behind megabytes—or gigabytes—of orphaned configs in ~/.config, sandbox caches in ~/.var/app, model weights, stale systemd --user daemons, and orphaned .desktop launcher icons.

We built DeepPurge: a lightweight, native GTK3 tool tailored for Zorin OS that unifies application discovery across all packaging formats, lets you search them via a native top search bar, and completely wipes both the binaries and their residual configuration junk.

Key Features

  • Multi-Backend Discovery: Scans Flatpaks, Snaps, portable AppImages, native DEBs, and loose /usr/local/bin binaries in one unified table.
  • True Deep Scrub: Beyond running apt purge or flatpak uninstall --delete-data, it actively hunts and purges:
    • Orphaned desktop launchers and autostart entries (~/.local/share/applications, /usr/share/applications)
    • Hidden cache/config paths (~/.config/<app>, ~/.cache/<app>, ~/.local/share/<app>)
    • User-session systemd units and background sockets
    • Desktop database and icon cache updates so menus clean up immediately.
  • Native Zorin Theme Integration: Built with Python 3 and PyGObject (GTK3)—uses native HeaderBars, responsive SearchEntry, and respects Zorin's dark/blue desktop accent styling without external heavy frameworks.
  • Non-blocking Threading: Safe GUI execution with native Polkit (pkexec) authentication when root privileges are required.

Quick Installation

  1. Install requirements:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y python3-gi python3-gi-cairo gir1.2-gtk-3.0
  - Hidden cache/config paths (`~/.config/<app>`, `~/.cache/<app>`, `~/.local/share/<app>`)
  - User-session systemd units and background sockets
  - Desktop database and icon cache updates so menus clean up immediately.
- **Native Zorin Theme Integration:** Built with Python 3 and PyGObject (GTK3)—uses native HeaderBars, responsive SearchEntry, and respects Zorin's dark/blue desktop accent styling without external heavy frameworks.
- **Non-blocking Threading:** Safe GUI execution with native Polkit (`pkexec`) authentication when root privileges are required.

---

### Quick Installation

1. **Install requirements:**
```bash
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y python3-gi python3-gi-cairo gir1.2-gtk-3.0
2

Congratulations. But Stacer does all of that for me anyway with a program remover and system cleaner ... and much more. :wink:

That said, I don't use Flatpaks or Snap, I tend to stick with APT and Synaptic Package Manager which can also be used to remove packages which will also include any dependencies.

3

In your guide something is missing. How to install the program itself? A link or similar...

4 
curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mschwachter/DeepPurge/main/install.sh | bash

But I would suggest you ensure the necessary dependencies stated in OP are observed first.

1 Like
5

You should work on Your Comment a bit. The Part ''We built DeepPurge'' and ''Key Features'' exist 2 Times and at the End the Install Process is incomplete.