Skip to content
Get packs

smolvm Teardown Cleanup

Stops smolvm machines, removes leftover smolvm state, and verifies the host is clean

Source Download skill
Repository
smol-machines/smolvm
Stars
6,901
Licence
Apache-2.0
Files
9 files

What it does

Once installed, the agent knows how to shut down any smolvm virtual machines a session started, find and remove leftover smolvm files and processes, and run checks that prove nothing was left behind. It also explains how to uninstall smolvm and reclaim disk space. It is careful to delete only machines recorded under its own name prefix, and asks before removing anything the user made themselves.

Great for

  • Developers who run smolvm virtual machines and want to leave a machine or laptop clean afterwards
  • Anyone handing back a shared or borrowed host with nothing left running
  • Teams using smolvm for test or build work that need reliable cleanup steps

Skip it if

  • Deleting machines created by other people or sessions: the skill refuses by design and the --reap option kills every VM under the current HOME, so it can stop a machine you meant to keep
  • Users who have not installed smolvm: the scripts check for it and mostly report nothing to do
  • Running cleanup under a fresh temporary HOME and assuming the host is clean: the checks only cover the HOME they run under

Try asking

  • “Clean up after my smolvm session and make sure no machines are still running”
  • “My smolvm machine survived a Ctrl-C, find it and stop it”
  • “Uninstall smolvm and show me what is left on this machine”
  • “Free up disk space used by smolvm and verify the host is clean”
Step-by-step guide: how to use smolvm Teardown CleanupInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 9 original files, the Apache-2.0 licence and an attribution note.

    teardown.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip teardown.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip teardown.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Run scripts/cleanup.sh without --reap first to read the list of running VM processes before killing anything
  • Pass --since with the time your test began and stop real machines before running verify-clean.sh against protected directories
  • Read the uninstall command before running it; it downloads and runs a script from smolmachines.com and some leftover directories must be removed by hand

What's inside

  • README.md
  • references/kubernetes.md
  • references/locations.md
  • references/traps.md
  • references/windows.md
  • scripts/cleanup.sh
  • scripts/preflight.sh
  • scripts/verify-clean.sh
  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from smol-machines/smolvm under the Apache-2.0 licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-11-02. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.