In the last 20+ years I've basically perfected where I want everything and expect everything to be where I like. I try to keep everything in the same order across work and home.
It would need some way to handle different machines having different sets of apps.
And writing this I realized that macOS does have "spaces", however they don't switch out the dock, so all the open stuff still stays there
Anyway, very cool, congrats on launching
There are a couple of tools for renaming them but they don’t work very well, at least not on apple silicon macs
So with DockFlow you actually get to name your different contexts, which is really nice
Moving the mouse pointer to middle of bottom edge of a screen will permanently move the Dock there. As far as I know, there is no way to disable this behavior. It's terrible.
For simultaneous multi-monitor, you're probably forced into using a full Dock replacement. There are a few options out there, but none have ever stuck with me personally.
I'm not a Spaces user so not sure what impact this has outside of the dock behaviour.
Is there a way to change docks using DockFlow via the command line?
Context: I already have a bash script I run when starting/finishing work which will start/stop any work related apps, switch the default browser, etc. It would be great if in addition to that I could configure both a work and a personal dock, and update that script to automatically set the right one.
You can also use the integration with the Apple Shortcuts app.
For using the DockFlowCLI, just run: /Applications/DockFlow.app/Contents/MacOS/DockFlowCLI --help
Of course should be baked into the OS itself... so does this need any permissions to work? I don't trust you enough to install it so that would be nice to be clear on.
Makes me realise that a dock of shortcuts that would change per app would be nice!
Like if cmd + 1, and up would be linked to a displayed shortcut in a dock and change according to the app. (Maybe it’s what the virtual function bar was on some MacBooks?)
I will check out this option. I also created an Apple Shortcuts integration, so if Apple provides a way to integrate desktop changes using the automation app, you can configure it to run a DockFlow preset for each scenario.
The shortcut and CLI integration are really powerful, I know users who set up automations for focus modes, time of day, etc.
Let me know if you manage to create such an integration, and I will check that out as well.
Thank you!
This looks like it’s potentially great for my use case. I currently have spacers to separate groups of apps in my dock, but many of those apps I only use in specific situations (things like a bunch of IDEs I don't need when I'm not programming).
I'm going to give this a shot. Thanks.
Congrats on identifying and resolving such a prevelant bottleneck.
I just installed it, it works great, looks great, and you have my money! :)
The import/export option is really helpful. [0]
Also the close-apps-not-in-the-dock-feature is interesting.
[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44065229
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The great reward of great work is a high value windfall of unrealistic feature requests from strangers who have never done a damn thing for you, of course!
Feel free to ignore the following...
> VISIBLE NAME OF DOCK <
Any way to show the dock's name would underline the current context for those of us whose minds wander.
Possible in the dock? Possible in the menu bar?
Possible to have an optional floating unframed rounded rectangle window with just the name, to the right or left of the dock? Or in a chosen screen corner?
It could double as a switch-dock menu button!
I can't be prompted enough to stay on task...
> APP GROUP DIVIDERS <
I would love to be able to add space-dividers between groups of icons on the dock. An elegant subtle indicator would be a little extra space between apps, containing a black concave-sided up-side-down-V "⋏", with its bottom horizontally aligned with the "app open" dots (when the doc is horizontal), and its top a third or half-way up the dock, so that curved V sides mirrored the curved bottom corners of the right and left adjacent apps.
Or just a vertical bar like the one that exists.
(It might be excessive, but I may create my own collection of "apps" that do nothing but quit when launched, with an icon that looks like a divider. Desperate times call for desperate measures.)
> HIDE AND UNHIDE APPS <
Suggestion: "hide apps not in the dock", and "unhide apps when they return to the dock" features. Then app states would not be lost.
Hidden open no-longer-dock-pinned apps would stay in the dock, but be grouped at the right, as usual.
> DIFFERENT DOCKS ON DIFFERENT SPACES <
Along those lines, different docks on different spaces would be amazing.
> MULTIPLE DOCKS AS A SET <
Choosing a dock, would actually choose a dock set.
> DEFAULT LAUNCH DOCK, ON BOOT UP <
Might be nice?
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I would happily pay a $5 in-app purchase for "lifetime access" for any useful features you add, each.
If optional features are genuinely useful, having the choice to mindfully complicate my tools, or skip them, makes paying for them separately not only reasonable, but supports you doing this important work for me!! I mean for the world!
Well, I can dream and dream.
Regardless of any of that, it's perfect, great job!
1. VISIBLE NAME OF DOCK - I think the best solution is to allow you to add it to the menu bar icon (Need to see how it will look like this can be tricky) Of course, it will be optional and toggleable in the settings menu. I will check for any other solution, but I want to avoid requiring more permissions for DockFlow or building something that will impact the Mac's performance.
2. APP GROUP DIVIDERS - I am not sure that I understand this request. Right now, you can manage spaces in the DockFlow UI, You can add a small or big spacer anywhere you want in the Dock. So this should be a solution for this request, no? Or am I missing something?
3. HIDE AND UNHIDE APPS - I will check it out, again, I want to prevent as many as possible from overwriting Apple's default Mac behaviors to make DockFlow with minimal impact and permission needed to run
4. DIFFERENT DOCKS ON DIFFERENT SPACES - When you say different spaces, do you mean focus modes? Or different desktops? Anyway, DockFlow has built-in CLI integration and Apple Shortcuts integration, so maybe you can create a custom automation that will get you the right flow that you need. I am planning to build a small website that will allow DockFlow users to share automation, presets, hotkeys recommendations, etc.
5. MULTIPLE DOCKS AS A SET - What do you mean by Dock Set
6. DEFAULT LAUNCH DOCK, ON BOOT UP - Nice idea! I will check the possibilities.
Thank you so much for this valuable feedback . Hope I will be able to bring more solutions that will solve your problems.
Cinnamon is nice if Win9x UI conventions are what you’re comfortable with. That’s not the case for many Mac users, especially those who've been using the platform for upwards of a decade, and unfortunately there is no macOS analogue DE for Linux. So even if some of these users might be interested in switching, they’re staring down learning a whole different set of conventions and key shortcuts, fighting muscle memory for several weeks, and still not being as fluid in day-to-day usage for several months at minimum, which seems like a pretty awful value proposition when they can pay $5 to fix a minor quibble and continue on with their day.
Rigidity is only a problem when the broad strokes aren’t congruent with the user’s desires. This is why a lot of longtime Windows and Linux users have trouble with macOS while longtime Mac users install a couple of third party utilities and are perfectly cozy.
macOS ergonomics aren’t perfect, as they aren’t with any OS, but are perfectly functional if you know your way around. Navigation is not a problem if you’re using key shortcuts for both switching apps and windows for example and don’t have a solely window-based mental model. It’s been possible to maximize windows without fullscreen by holding down option when using the key shortcut or clicking the green button.
Permissions are a growing pain that every desktop OS will eventually need to face. The old model of every app having access to everything whenever it wishes doesn’t work in the modern era, and dealing with that is something seen even under Linux with things like Flatpak.
Also not sure why the dock insists on disappearing when you have a fullscreen video ... on another monitor.
I miss Windows 7 everyday.
And finally discovered that you should do a strange movement of two fast tap to the bottom of the screen without mouse to move the dock on this screen. Would always happen unexpected but will be very hard to execute well to bring the dock back.