Can you slim macOS down?
Summary
The article explores slimming macOS by examining background processes, especially Time Machine components backupd and backupd-helper. It explains that these processes are controlled by system-level subsystems (DAS/CTS) and reside in the Signed System Volume, making user-level removal impractical or impossible. The piece argues modern macOS restricts user control over which processes run, limiting slimming to only limited, often risky, adjustments.