Dockapps


Dockapps are computer programs that have a tiny graphical interface, the size of an icon. They typically reside in a part of the user interface known as the dock, alongside icons of applications that are inactive.
Their small size makes dockapps well-suited for monitoring applications that update the icon window with low-priority information. Some applications are:
Support for dockapps has been present in Window Maker since
.
In early 1999 a
hosts 54 open-source dockapps. Other window managers quickly followed. In AfterStep in the
.
In Blackbox and derivatives in the .
As of 2024, hosts 211 open-source dockapps in 14 categories. Usually their names start with 'wm' to distinguish them from non-dockapp applications.
Dedicated software libraries exist to support developing a dockapp:
  • parses the command line and does events, pixmaps and shapes.
  • is one API for Dockapp, Gnome 2 panel and Rox panel.
  • is a Ruby library for making DockApps.

    Protocol

For an application window to be recognized as a dockapp, a protocol must be followed. The ICCCM specifies the WM_HINTS property, which applications must set. It communicates the desired initial state of a window to the window manager. Common values are Normal and Iconic. For a dockapp, that state must be set to Withdrawn. The WM_HINTS also specifies the icon window to be used. Commonly, it has a dimension of 64 by 64 pixels.
In 2010, a second method was
. When the Class part of the WM_CLASS property is set to 'DockApp', the window is also recognized as a dockapp. The motivation was that in GTK it is impossible to create windows in the Withdrawn state. This method was also adopted by other window managers, like AfterStep, Fluxbox, Ion, Openbox and IceWM.