Cairo dock is an application launcher for Linux operating systems which gives us the appearance of the popular pitcher of Mac, With the only and big difference being Cairo dock it is much more configurable and customizable at 100 x 100.
In the next article I will teach you how to install it on Ubuntu 12.04, As well as its main features and possible configurations.
to install Cairo dock, We just have to open a new terminal and type the following line:
sudo apt-get install cairo-dock
With this line we will already have it installed Cairo dock on our computer, now to run properly and not bother us with the original Ubuntu bars, we will have to reboot and select the option to Cairo dock from the screen login:
Within the options we can see how we can start our system by integrating the new launcher installed, it will also give us the option to use it with effects, without effects or with the Unity integrated panel in it.
I have selected the option with effects and this is the result when logging in Ubuntu:
As you can see in the screenshot above, cairo-dock has been fitted perfectly into the system, changing the bottom bar to its own with a total look of Mac, And in the top bar we have replaced it with two separate bars in the corners, the one on the right for connections and notifications and the one on the left for the own menu of Ubuntu and the places.
Cairo-dock properties
By clicking anywhere on the bottom bar with the right mouse button, we can enter the launcher configuration, And it is in this aspect, where Cairo-dock stands out over other similar launchers, as it offers us a myriad of configuration options.
among his multiple configuration options we can emphasize the following:
- Support to change the theme as well as save the current theme.
- Fully configurable bars, both in effects as in forms i Colours.
- Option to control the behavior, so we can predefine how the launcher will act, for example when we open a new window.
- Animation and effects of the icons, as well as changing them for ours individually.
- Effects when hiding the launcher.
- Keyboard shortcut option.(Shortkeys)
- In additional components we will find a good number of applets available.
With that you will already have Cairo dock Properly installed on your Linux operating system, it is now a matter of experimenting with the different ones themes and settings to leave it adjusted to the maximum with our tastes and work habits.
Learn more – How to change desktop unity for gnome-shell
