AROS Dockbar

FOR THE AROS DESKTOP

A modern dock
for AROS.

Dockbar supports up to eight independently configured docks, drag-created application groups, drawer panels and AmigaDOS commands. Its widget API lets you add your own tools or integrate another application.

Get Dockbar Explore the features

Open source · PC & Raspberry Pi · Version 0.6.2

APPLICATIONS / GROUPS / WIDGETS
AROS WorkbenchFriday · 10:24
Multiple docks.
One desktop.
My workspace 3 items
Shell
Browser
Projects
10:24

Illustration of a grouped workspace · Original Dockbar icons

MULTIPLE DOCKS

Put your docks
where you want.

Each dock has its own position, orientation, contents and appearance. You can change one without changing the others.

Position and orientation

Create up to eight docks. Place each one freely, or attach it to the top, bottom, left or right edge. At an edge, choose its alignment and distance; switch between horizontal and vertical layouts.

Dock contents

Docks can be named and duplicated. Move shortcuts between them, divide items with separators or spacers, and add the built-in clock.

Moving and locking

Drag the grip to move a dock. Once it is where you want it, lock its position and contents to prevent accidental edits and moves. The grip can also be hidden; Ctrl-click opens the dock menu.

Layout illustration using original Dockbar icons.

GROUPS / RELATED TOOLS

Group applications
together.

A group holds several shortcuts in a single dock item. Click it to open an icon grid.

Create groups by dragging, then reorder their contents or move shortcuts between groups and docks.

CREATING AND EDITING A GROUP
  1. 1
    Create the group

    Hold one launcher over another to form a group.

  2. 2
    Add shortcuts

    Drop shortcuts into the panel, or hold over the group to open it.

  3. 3
    Open or rearrange

    Click an item in the grid to launch it, or drag it back onto the dock.

Groups open as icon grids.

DRAWERS / FILES / LAUNCHERS

Browse drawers
and open files.

Drawer panels display the contents of a directory directly beside the dock.

Dockbar drawer panel showing Preferences tools in an icon grid
Preferences drawer · Dockbar 0.5-test12
↗

Browse a drawer from the dock

Open subdrawers and launch files from the panel, or continue in Wanderer. The panel follows changes in the directory.

↓

Open dropped files

Set a launcher’s On drop option to Open the files to pass dropped documents to that application.

＋

Pin and edit shortcuts

Drop an application from Wanderer to pin it. Shift-click its shortcut to edit the name, icon or launch options. Removing the shortcut leaves the original file untouched.

COMMANDS / SCRIPTS / FILE ACTIONS

Run commands
and scripts.

Command items run AmigaDOS command lines or script files, with a working directory and optional Shell output.

Commands and script files

Add a command line such as Dir SYS:Prefs ALL, or select a script file to run with Execute. Set its working directory, and choose whether to open a Shell window so you can read its output and errors.

File arguments

A launcher can add dropped items as shortcuts or open files in its application. A command can run with the files instead. Set On drop in the item editor to choose the behaviour for that item.

EXAMPLE / LIST THE FILES YOU DROP

NameInspect files
CommandList {files}
On dropRun with the files

Place {files} once, as a separate word. Dockbar inserts the dropped paths and quotes each one, including names with spaces. A script can accept multiple files with .KEY FILES/M.

Read the controls guide ↗

APPEARANCE / CONTENT / BEHAVIOUR

Set the dock’s
appearance.

Choose the background style and how items are displayed. Appearance settings can be shared across docks or overridden individually.

BACKGROUND STYLES / FROSTED GLASS

Frosted glass

Frosted glass softens the captured desktop behind the bar. Wallpaper colours show through a blurred, tinted background, while icons and labels stay crisp.

In Preferences, set Background to Bar, choose a non-zero Transparency % and enable Frosted glass.

Frosted glass uses a captured desktop background. It is available when real window transparency is not active; it does not blur live windows behind the dock. The --no-compose option selects the capture path.

10:24

Solid bar

A defined background in light or dark colours. Set transparency to zero for an opaque bar.

10:24

Transparency

Let the background show through. On systems with window composition, the system updates what is behind the dock.

10:24

Without a bar

Display items without a background bar.

Background styles illustrated for this page, not application screenshots. Colours and the background update path depend on your settings and system.

Icons, text or both

ICONS
Compass iconTerminal iconFolder icon

Labels on hover, always visible, or hidden.

ICON AND TEXT
ShellProjects

Names below or beside your icons.

TEXT
ShellProjectsTools

Plain text or individual button plates.

Presentation illustrations, not application screenshots.

Icons and labels

Use native Amiga .info icons or choose your own SVG. Adjust icon size and spacing. Show icon labels always, only on hover, or not at all. An item can override the dock’s presentation mode.

Colours and shape

Choose light, dark or automatic colours and set the corner radius. Each dock can inherit shared defaults or use its own settings.

Movement and text

Choose Lift, Magnify or no hover effect for icons on a bar. Select system or smooth text rendering.

YOUR OWN WIDGETS

Build your
own widgets.

Widgets support data displays and user-triggered actions. External applications can install their own packages through the public API.

Widget packages

A widget lives in its own directory: metadata, view bindings, settings, assets and a provider built for the target system. Dockbar draws the interface and starts the provider when data or an action are needed.

Use a compact tile with an expanded view for information, or an action widget that runs only when the user chooses an action. Each instance keeps its own settings.

Read the widget guide ↗Explore the sample package ↗

Widget APIs 1 and 2 are experimental. Build providers for the matching architecture and ABI; the guide describes the current contract.

YOUR WIDGET / PACKAGE STRUCTURE
org.example.my-widget/
│
├── manifest.json package & target
├── views.json    what to display
├── settings.json user preferences
├── assets/       icons & artwork
├── bin/          native provider
└── LICENSE
Your providerDockbarYour desktop

Package structure illustrated. Start with the working sample for the complete manifest and protocol.

Application integration

The public Dockbar.Widgets message port lets a program query compatibility and install a widget package. Dockbar checks the target and API, then can offer the user a choice of dock.

Integration header ↗
Weather widget on AROS One with current conditions, hourly forecast and five-day forecast

Weather on AROS One · Screenshot from Dockbar 0.5.2

INCLUDED WIDGET / WEATHER

Weather widget

The included Weather widget shows current conditions, an hourly forecast and a five-day outlook.

Each instance has its own location and units, so several cities can be displayed on the same desktop.

Forecast data by Open-Meteo · CC BY 4.0
Requires a working TCP/IP connection and a correct system clock.

PREFERENCES / SAVING / STARTUP

Save your layout
and preferences.

Preferences stores dock layouts, appearance settings and widget identities in the saved configuration.

Preferences separates placement, content, appearance and behaviour. Apply lets you try changes, Save keeps them, and Cancel restores the saved layout.

Enable Start with Wanderer to create a startup icon pointing to this installation. Keep Dockbar in its own drawer with its assets and widgets; the program does not need to be copied into WBStartup.

The controls at a glance

Pin an application
Drop it from Wanderer
Reorder a shortcut
Drag to an insertion edge
Edit an item
Shift-click, or Edit items…
Move a dock
Drag its grip
Open its menu
Click the grip, or Ctrl-click
Add a widget
Add widget… in the menu

Removing a shortcut leaves its target file in place. Removing a widget instance also removes that instance’s saved settings and cache once its provider has stopped.

PC / RASPBERRY PI

Download Dockbar 0.6.2.

Packages for mainline x86_64, ABIv11 x86_64 and Raspberry Pi aarch64. All include SVG icons and Weather.

PC / x86_64Mainline AROSABIv1 · ZIP archive ↓PC / x86_64AROS One / ABIv11ABIv11 · ZIP archive ↓RASPBERRY PI / AARCH64AROS for Raspberry PiABIv1 · ZIP archive ↓

Install from an archive

Unpack the archive, keep the complete drawer together and open Dockbar. See the included ReadMe for setup and system startup.

Release notes & system requirements ↗

Or install with arospkg

apkg update
apkg install dockbar
About the package manager ↗