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Cairo-Dock Adds Slick, Custom App-Launching to Linux
Posted by Kevin Purdy at 1:10 AM on May 6, 2008
Linux only: We're big fans of application dock and launcher Avant Window Navigator around here, but free utility Cairo-Dock makes a strong showing as well, not least for its highly-configurable and slick appearance, as well as a good range of plug-ins and third-party applets. Changing Cairo-Dock's appearance with transparencies, two-bar-splitting, and other tweaks is a bit easier than with AWN, and, while not offered in as many official repositories, it's easily installed on Ubuntu and Debian-based systems, and not too hard to compile for other distributions as well. Cairo-Dock is a free download for Linux systems only. Hit the via link for help on an Ubuntu installation and configuration.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
abhiroop
Posted 2:43 AM 6/5/08
I still think this takes up to much screen space. I'm much happier with using gnome do. A simple command (alt-z, which are both very close together), and it launches, and I press F and firefox starts. I don't mind using the mouse but if I can get the job done so fast using the keyboard then I'll leave the eyecandy out thank you very much!
abhiroop
guibom
Posted 3:40 AM 6/5/08
I use AWN, but it's not that smooth. When you close apps, or use stacks, etc; the dock glitches a lot. It doesn't feel very solid.
I'll try the Cairo-Dock to see how it behaves!
guibom
bdragonmsl
Posted 3:25 AM 6/5/08
It's a great looking dock, but it's slower than AWN. I'll continue to play and tweak it, but for out of the box performance it really lacks!!
bdragonmsl
Venkatesh Nandakumar
Posted 4:14 AM 6/5/08
Cairo-dock is much better than AWN, much slicker effects. Less-memory hog too!
Venkatesh Nandakumar
Halloway
Posted 3:56 AM 6/5/08
How do you open Gnome Do with alt-z? I can't see an obvious way of configuring this.
TIA
Halloway
Riskbreaker927
Posted 5:18 AM 6/5/08
@CyberCowboy: I got it in a few very simple steps:
1)Download Hardy 32-bit ISO
2)Burn to CD
3)Install over Hardy 64-bit partition
4)Use above howtos to install Cairo-dock.
5)Pretend 64-bit doesn't exist.
6)????
7)Profit!
Riskbreaker927
CyberCowboy
Posted 5:05 AM 6/5/08
Anyone have a guide for adding this to Hardy 64-bit?
CyberCowboy
eagledrc
Posted 5:41 AM 6/5/08
yeah i wanna add it for hardy 64-bit too....
64-bit rules lol
eagledrc
abhiroop
Posted 5:58 AM 6/5/08
@Halloway:
1. Open a terminal+z
2. Type "gconf-editor"
3. Click on apps
4. Click on gnome-do
5. Click on preferences.
6. On the right pane you will see "key_binding"
7. Right click and select "Edit Key..."
8. Set it to whatever you like, but note if you want to use something like Alt+Z, type:
abhiroop
daybringer
Posted 5:49 AM 6/5/08
@eagledrc and CyberCowboy: When was the last time you used more than 3GB of ram, other than that there is no real reason to upgrade, and therefore no more 64 bit incompatibilities. Right now not enough people are using 64 bit because there is no reason to migrate to it, but once programs require a certain amount of ram people will start making the transition and then 64 bit will take off almost overnight.
daybringer
forpeterssake
Posted 6:25 AM 6/5/08
I gave this a try on Xubuntu Hardy. It was very easy to install, which I liked. One of the reasons I haven't tried a dock with AWN is that I know it takes a little tweaking. I don't know how the performance compares; my machine is older and quite slow. Still, it looks pretty good.
I don't know if I'll keep using it, though. I usually prefer to have icons in the top bar. It's just as useful for me, and it uses less resources on my older system.
forpeterssake
Kent84
Posted 5:44 PM 6/5/08
I could not get Cairo dock to work with my ATI graphics card after trying EVERYTHING. The whole lack of linux drivers from ATI really bites.
Kent84
TheManator
Posted 11:20 PM 6/5/08
[farm3.static.flickr.com]
I will stick with WindowBlinds and the nice Aero dock, but this looks pretty cool too.
TheManator
mskadu
Posted 12:41 AM 7/5/08
Here's a screenshot of mine. IMHO it still needs a bit of work. But it looks great :)
It has alsp taught me that the shiniest looking features do not have to be the best ones ;-)
[www.flickr.com]
mskadu
gregbzh
Posted 4:30 AM 7/5/08
Nice. As I run Ubuntu on two PCs, one is now using AWN and the other Cairo Dock. Thanks for the link.
gregbzh
TheManator
Posted 5:12 AM 7/5/08
@mskadu: I would try to install it if my wife wasn't so used to Windows - it took nearly a year for her to get used to Firefox alone...
TheManator
stopsatgreen
Posted 12:13 AM 8/5/08
Both are pretty cool, but until they integrate with the rest of the OS in the same way the OS X dock does - drag an app onto it to create a launcher, for example - neither really do the job they should.
stopsatgreen
-emory-
Posted 10:59 AM 8/5/08
@stopsatgreen: hmm.. I'm about to install this dock, but I'v eused AWN for about a year now and it works pretty flawlessly with the rest of the os. NOT ONLY can you already drag-to-create launchers in awn, but there are a TON of great plugins that add all (plus a few more) features that I like in the osx bar. The only thing that bugs me a bit is the increased boot time (about 5 seconds of a black screen) but that's not that much of a big deal, seeing as most of the time my computer is just in standby.
-emory-
Munkymack
Posted 7:02 AM 6/5/08
Would it be at all possible to combine this with the previously mentioned virtualbox hack? I'm getting ready to add windows via virtual box, but don't want to bother with the start bar. I'd love to be able to throw both Linux and XP icons on it and go from there.
and yes, Gnome-Do rules, but in a whole different way for me. I use it to find and launch specific files, as well as a few programs that i don't have stuck up in the top toolbar.
Munkymack