Show HN: Cc-reaper – Three-layer cleanup for orphan Claude Code processes (github.com)

A new tool called Cc-reaper has been introduced to address the memory leak issue caused by orphaned processes from Claude Code, which is particularly affecting macOS and Linux users. When sessions end, either normally or due to crashes, subagents and MCP servers remain as orphan processes that continue consuming significant RAM—often between 200-400 MB each. This can accumulate to over 7 GB of wasted memory across multiple sessions, highlighting a critical performance concern for users operating AI-driven applications with high resource demands. Cc-reaper provides an automated cleanup mechanism for these orphan processes through a three-layer system. It includes immediate cleanup at session end using a stop hook, a daemon that scans and kills orphans every 30 seconds, and a manual cleanup option for user intervention. The tool integrates commands for users to monitor RAM usage and execute cleanup scripts with ease. This initiative not only enhances the efficiency of managing resources in AI applications but also emphasizes the community's proactive approach to resolving persistent technical challenges related to process management in AI frameworks.