Are you a fan of how Mac OS customers change between purposes? Wish to set up a dock to imitate this expertise, however undecided what the perfect one to make use of is? It’s comprehensible, as there are quite a lot of completely different choices. From easy docks, to intricate ones; Linux has quite a bit to supply to anybody who desires to make a Linux Desktop seem like macOS. It’s due to this, we’ve created an inventory of the perfect docks to make use of on Linux.
We’ll go over the person options every dock has and the use case for every dock, the desktop environments they assist, and extra!
1. Plank
Plank has earned the title of the “simplest dock on Linux”. The dock is fairly straight ahead; there’s no configuration wanted to get it working proper, and no plugins required to get the complete expertise. What you see is what you get with this dock which is extremely interesting for lots of Linux customers, particularly these seeking to replicate the Apple Mac OS expertise on their favourite distribution.
In accordance with the builders, the primary focus of Plank is to ship a strong launcher expertise. The underlying expertise that makes up this Dock can be utilized in Docky (which is the place all the fancy plugins go). In the event you’re simply searching for a strong software dock for Linux, and don’t care about plugins, do examine Plank out!
2. Docky
Docky is a Linux software launcher program constructed from the identical builders that created Plank. Docky focuses on delivering superior options, whereas Plank focuses on simplicity. Options included within the Docky software dock embrace assist for themes and skins, varied completely different hiding modes, zeitgeist integration, desktop indicator assist, and extra!
Do check out Docky if you happen to love Plank however want it wasn’t so missing in options.
3. Latte Dock
Most docks on Linux are made with the GTK desktops in thoughts, not Latte Dock. As a substitute, this dock is centered across the similar instruments and gadgets that make up the KDE Plasma 5 desktop setting. In consequence, it appears to be like proper at residence on any KDE setup.
In contrast to quite a lot of different docks on this record, the Latte Dock can successfully change your panel fully as a result of it has assist for KDE Plasma widgets and all software launchers. Along with assist for widgets, there are different nice options, reminiscent of: completely different hiding modes, assist for a number of docks on display, multi-monitor assist, varied preset dock layouts, theme assist, and so forth.
Latte Dock could be very configurable, and is an ideal addition for any KDE Plasma fan searching for a strong dock software launcher.
4. Avant Window Navigator
There are quite a lot of software docks on Linux, however one of many oldest ones out there’s the Avant Window Navigator. Linux customers searching for a dock have all the time mentioned good issues about this one, particularly as a result of it runs very easy, and doesn’t take up quite a lot of RAM.
Along with being very environment friendly, the AWN dock has quite a lot of options to supply, primarily: theme assist, completely different dock view-modes (3D mode, curve mode, edgy mode and and so forth), an develop mode that lets the consumer flip the dock into an extended panel, window grouping, and assist for a lot of completely different plugins.
It’s no secret that Avant Window Navigator is getting old. This can be off-putting to some, however in the end individuals shouldn’t view it as a detrimental. AWN has been round for at the very least 10 years. The result’s a really secure, strong and dependable software dock with quite a lot of options and plugins.
5. Cairo Dock
Maybe among the finest docks on Linux to “mimic” the appear and feel of the Mac OS dock is Cairo Dock. The builders attempt very onerous to make it a drop-in alternative for Mac customers (and followers of Apple) and to get a comparable software dock expertise. They even go as far as to repeat the animation settings that Apple makes use of, in addition to the general Apple really feel.
It’s not all about appears to be like although, as Cairo Dock has an enormous record of options, primarily: the flexibility to make use of a number of docks, develop docks into panels, completely different animation modes. Cairo Dock additionally has assist for plugins, an software menu, and even a panel mode.
Clearly, as a result of theme variations, Cario Dock doesn’t look an identical to the Mac dock. That mentioned, it nonetheless does a comparable job, and with the proper GTK theme, matches proper in. Anybody seeking to convert their Linux desktop to one thing Mac-like (that doesn’t like Docky/Plank) ought to give this one a go.
Conclusion
Ever since Mac OS grew to become the cool working system, everybody has tried to export options from it to make use of as their very own. Utility docks are not any exception. Through the years, an increasing number of app docks have popped up on Linux, and now even some mainstream Linux distributions are getting in on the sport.
An abundance of alternative could seem to be a foul factor, however it’s actually not. Docks are getting actually good on Linux, and the options they provide verify it. Customization is among the greatest issues about Linux, and with out completely different launchers and panels for customers to put in, Linux wouldn’t stand out!
