14 DAY TRIAL // While computers are generally regarded as tools, they are also an environment. Much like a cubicle, desk or an office, the computer is susceptible to becoming untidy, disorganized and an all out mess if it isn't cleaned out every once in a while. Of course, this is where a computer differs from a desk, for, while the latter cannot really hold a great amount of things, a computer can hold a great many things, and unlike a desk, where the mess eventually swamps you out and you have to do something about it, the computer can generally be worked even so and it is easier to postpone the spring cleaning. However, there is also another difference between a desk and a computer, which is that a computer can be set up to clean itself up, while the desk can't do much other than just stand there and support whatever is on it.
Of course, computers don't usually clean themselves up, at least not without some dedicated software, such as Hazel.
What it does
Hazel is the desktop equivalent of a housekeeper. You set it up to keep certain locations on your computer organized under certain rules and it will diligently keep them that way, following the instructions you give it. Not only can it keep your files in order, but it can also manage your trash for you, sorting out things that are long past due for deletion and making sure the trash can does not overflow.
In and Out
While Hazel can, in theory, be set up to handle your entire computer, doing so is quite a leap of faith for, like most other computer software, it is not very intelligent and will do what it is told. As such, it can very well wreck a load hard drive simply by following the instructions you give it. And this is not because the software is at fault, but simply because on a messy computer, it is easy to forget about those very important files that you have stashed away, safely out of sight, in thirty or so nested folders. As such, while the software can manage an entire computer, it is not recommended to do so, at least not with a hard drive that is already packed with information.
The best way to set up Hazel is to have it work in the places where files and folders usually tend to get out of hand, namely where information goes in and out of the computer. Your downloads folder, working directory and "files I might need later but I am not really sure about" dump are all prime candidates for places where information comes in your computer. Likewise, the trash is the place where files leave. Such locations are the ones where Hazel would be best suited for the job, leaving everything else on your computer intact.
By the rules
Hazel does its job by following the rules you set up. These rules are composed of two parts, the condition, or conditions, and the action. The conditions are the requirements that need to be met in order for a file to be eligible, while the action is what will be carried out if the file was eligible. Those familiar with Mail's rules will find the rule system used by Hazel very familiar as it follows the same concepts but is more geared towards files and folders rather than e-mail. Setting up rules is quite easy and intuitive, and the rules themselves can be as simple or as complex as you want them to be, same for actions. You can have a multitude of conditions and only one action or the exact opposite. Furthermore, rules in Hazel belong to a folder, so you can set up a rule that will only be applied to your downloads folder, and will have no bearing whatsoever on your desktop.
Working with the trash is infinitely simpler than working with the files themselves. Here you have two options, which are to automatically get rid of files that are older than a certain period, and to make sure that the trash does not go over a specified amount of hard drive space. Additionally, you can set how files that are deleted by Hazel will be deleted, with normal and secure being the two options. While secure might sound tempting, it is recommended to manually delete sensitive files, and keep Hazel on normal deletion. This way, in case a file accidentally trashed, you can recover it, which is not possible with a secure deletion.
The Good
Easy to set up and use, a very practical program for automated housekeeping. The rules system is great and the way they are tied to folders makes it easy to tailor to very specific needs.
The Bad
As far as housekeepers go, Hazel does a great job. The only thing that's missing is for it to fix you up a nice cup of tea while you are away from the computer.
The Truth
If your downloads folder is expanding at the same rate as the Internet, and your trash has not been taken out in a few months, you definitely need some housekeeping done, and Hazel is just the right software for it.
Here are some screenshots, click to enlarge:
