---
id: mac-storage-basics.should-time-machine-back-up-developer-caches
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/should-time-machine-back-up-developer-caches
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "Developer tools"
question: "Should Time Machine back up Xcode DerivedData and other developer caches?"
alt_questions:
  - "exclude deriveddata from time machine"
  - "time machine developer folders"
  - "backup node_modules time machine"
  - "reduce backups developer mac"
  - "time machine xcode caches"
short_answer: "Usually not — they're rebuildable and change constantly, inflating every backup. Exclude them in Time Machine's Options and make sure your source code is backed up."
tags: ["time machine", "developer", "exclude"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-exclude-folders-from-time-machine", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/is-it-safe-to-delete-deriveddata"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Should Time Machine back up Xcode DerivedData and other developer caches?

Usually not. Build caches, DerivedData, simulators, package caches, node_modules and Docker data are rebuildable and change constantly, so they make every backup bigger without protecting anything you can't recreate.

Add them to Time Machine's exclusion list in **Options…**, and make sure your source code itself is backed up (and pushed to a remote repository).