Dock (computing)
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:Macosxdock.png Image:OPENSTEP Dock.jpg
The Dock is a graphical user interface feature first introduced in the NeXTSTEP and OPENSTEP operating systems, and radically changed and refined in Mac OS X, where it behaves more like Newtons Newton OS Dock.
In NeXTSTEP and OPENSTEP, the Dock is a repository to store frequently used programs. The icon for the Workspace Manager and the Recycler icons are always visible. Programs that are hidden are differentiated from programs that are not by the use of an ellipsis in the icons of non-running programs.
Contents |
Apple and Mac OS X
In Mac OS X, however, the Dock is used as a repository for any program or file in the operating system. It can hold any number of items, and resizes them dynamically to fit while using magnification to clarify smaller resized items. These features are unlike those of the dock in the NeXT operating systems, where the capacity of the Dock is fixed and dependent on the resolution the screen is set at. This may be an attempt to recover some Shelf functionality, since Mac OS X had no effective Shelf technology carried over from its NeXT heritage. Some of the shelf functionality has been integrated in the Macintosh Finder.
The changes to the Dock bring its functionality closer to that of Apple's Newton OS Button Bar. The Button Bar included a trash can, the ability to drag application shortcuts in and out of the Finder, and animations and sounds that accompany launching of applications or moving of icons. The default position on the bottom of the desktop with the option to rearrange the dock along the sides instead, was also an early feature of Newton OS.
The Mac OS X dock also has extended menus that can control applications without making them visible on-screen. On most applications it has simple options such as Quit, Keep On Dock and other options, but iTunes uses this menu as a way for a user to control the playback options from iTunes. Other Applications include changing the staus of an online alias (MSN, AIM/iChat etc.) or automatically saving the changes that have been made in a document (There is no current application with this feature made available for Mac OS X). Docklings can also be opened by using the right-mouse button, if the mouse has one, but most of the time either clicking and holding or control-click will bring the menu up.
Other operating systems
A similar feature has been a fundamental part of an operating system called RISC OS and its predecessor Arthur since its inception, beginning in 1987, which may pre-date the NeXTSTEP dock (released in 1989).
Windows does not have a native dock equivalent, but many programs (like ObjectDock) have sprung up due to the popularity of Mac OS X. Earlier versions of Mac OS did not have a dock, but an add-on such as A-dock adds a dock for users of earlier versions.
Images
 The Dock in Mac OS X can resize dynamically, following the cursor. |
 Mac OS X Dockling. Used to control an application without bringing it into focus |
 Window Maker dock, similar to the NeXTSTEP dock |
External links
- Getting familliar with the dock - a short tutorial from Apple on the use of the Dock
- http://www.jonathansblog.net/newton_messagepad_2000_experience
- Newton OS enhancemant illustrating Button Bar
- Mobydock DX, a free but slightly unstable dock for Windows
- RK Launcher, a free dock that supports ObjectDock and YzDock docklets and skins
- ObjectDock, another dock for Windows, produced by Stardock, with a free and pay version.
- Rocketdock, yet another Windows dock A free and somewhat faster alternative (according to article "System-Utilities", C't, 23/2005: p. 183) to Objectdock etc. Supports skins from Objectdock, Y'Z Dockand Mobydock.
- A-Dock, adds a Dock for Mac OS Classicde:Dock (Computer)
Categories: Mac OS X | NeXT | GNUstep