Linux Desktop Docks And Panels

Posted on: February 2nd, 2012 by 4 Comments

Linux is all about variety, and the desktop is no different. If you don’t like the dock or panel that is provided with your desktop environment you can always switch it for a new one. Most even allow you to customize them to your preferences.

Understanding Docks

Many docks and panels can even use themes, you can choose from several of the available themes to achieve a completely new look. Every dock has similar functions, but the look, and the available options may be very different, some are actually quite complex.

Cairo Dock Screenshot


Avant Window Navigator

Use Avant Window Navigator to manage your open windows, and launch your favorite applications. The Avant window Navigator or AWN is a fairly simple dock that offers many useful features and customization options. With Avant you can use plug-ins to extend the functionality or try themes for more style.

About AWN

You can also drag and drop items inside your dock to rearrange them. Though this dock is very easy to use, it is still quite powerful. AWN is a great alternative to Docky or Cairo Dock.

Avant Window Navigator

Cairo Dock

This is probably the best dock available for the Linux desktop environment, since I have tried Cairo dock I have not turned back. Users will be amazed by the massive selection of features and options. Cairo dock also offers amazing effects and a highly customizable interface, this dock is truly unrivalled.

Highly Customizable

With several of the available plug-ins you can add system monitors, workspace switches, and menu applets to your dock. There is even a huge selection of themes for users to try, or you can customize your own theme.

Cairo Dock

Docky

Docky is another powerful dock that sometimes comes with the Gnome desktop environment. Docky also uses some wonderful effects, and themes to help you customize your dock to match your desktop. You will even receive notifications when items inside Docky need your attention.

About Docky

New items can be dragged from your menu inside Docky, or you can drag and drop items inside your dock to rearrange them. There are a few docklets or plug-ins that you can add to your dock but the list is rather short. Either way this is a fantastic choice for users who want a simple but flexible dock.

Docky

Gnome Desktop Panels

The Gnome panel is a primary aspect of the Gnome desktop environment. The Gnome panel offers several customization options such as colorization and transparency. You can also have multiple docks running at the same time. Gnome even provides a vast number of applets that you can add to your panel, these include system monitors, clocks, drawers, and more.

Gnome Desktop Panels

KDE Plasma Desktop Panels

This is the default panel that is included with the KDE Plasma desktop. The KDE Plasma panel is similar to the Gnome panel, its easy to use and very flexible. You can also add several of the KDE Plasma desktop widgets to your panel for convenient access. This panel also offers a variety of options to help you customize your panel to match your desktop.

KDE Plasma Desktop Panels

Tint2 Panel

Another lightweight task-bar that is also quite powerful. This panel has a system tray, task-bar, clock, and more. The Tint 2 panel is very customizable and offers some fantastic transparency options.

Tint2 Panel

Xfce 4 Desktop Panels

This is a very lightweight dock for the Xfce 4 desktop which is highly customizable. You can customize your dock with background images or transparency. The Xfce 4 panel also provides a convenient graphical user interface for customization.

Xfce 4 Desktop Panels
Linux Desktop Software

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  • chipbuster

    So what’s the difference between a dock and a panel? Are they pretty much the same thing, or are there differences? And how well does integration between them work? Say I’m using Xfce but I want to take a crack at Cairo. Can I still run Xfce panels at all?

    • http://linuxlibrary.org thinkinhurtz

      Did you start throwing out questions because you knew I would be hung over today. Thank you for that. lol

      I dare not get technical with this one, and it is a difficult one to answer.

      Panels and docks are generally very similar in design and function. To make it simple a panel will generally span one entire edge of the screen, a panel will contain menus, applets, launchers, usually a place for open windows, and system notifications as well. Most desktop environments already contain a default panel.

      A dock is usually smaller covering a small portion of your screen edge. A dock usually uses more of an iconified style for its contents. Launchers, applets and open windows will generally appear as icons. The main focus of a dock is using it for application launchers, panels are more multi-purpose.

      All applets are specific to the panel you are using. Applets for one panel are unlikely to work with another without some dubious tricks. With that said, any panel or dock should work with almost any Linux desktop environment. Also a panel and a dock can be running at the same time without problems. You can even use the XFCE panel, and Cairo dock… on Gnome or KDE.

      In the world of Linux nothing is official, a developer can call a dock a panel or a potatoe if he wants to. This is common with the smaller projects especially.

      Should we separate docks and panels into different sections for clarity?

      • chipbuster

        Nah, I was just curious

  • http://linuxlibrary.org thinkinhurtz

    Also some panels will install the whole desktop, most in fact. But you can install certain panels individually. XFCE for example can be installed via xfce4-panel. On some desktops the panels are provided by a set of libraries.. its really ugly when that is the case.