[HN Gopher] Show HN: DockFlow - Switch between multiple macOS Do...
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Show HN: DockFlow - Switch between multiple macOS Dock layouts
instantly
I built DockFlow after constantly rearranging my macOS Dock when
switching between coding, designing, or writing tasks. macOS only
supports one Dock layout, and every context switch felt like wasted
time and broken focus. DockFlow solves this by letting you save
multiple Dock presets and switch between them instantly, all
without complex setup or bloat. Key features: - Save and switch
between multiple Dock configurations - Assign custom hotkeys to
change layouts instantly - Add apps, folders, files, or links to
your Dock - Insert visual spacers to group items - Lightweight and
macOS-native (no permissions or custom dock) - Supports macOS 13.5
and above - Includes CLI tools and Shortcuts integration *Launch
Price:* EUR4.99 Price increases to EUR9.99 on June 1 No
subscriptions. One-time payment for lifetime access. Try it here:
https://dockflow.appitstudio.com/ Happy to hear your feedback or
questions! Let me know what you think Hope more people will find
this app helpful.
Author : pugdogdev
Score : 49 points
Date : 2025-05-22 17:00 UTC (6 hours ago)
(HTM) web link (dockflow.appitstudio.com)
(TXT) w3m dump (dockflow.appitstudio.com)
| moonlighter wrote:
| That seems super useful, as my dock is overflowing with too many
| apps, which I all use, just at different times for very different
| scenarios... like for example when producing and working on
| videos I use FinalCutPro, Motion and Compressor, but these three
| take up space when I'm in a totally different context like
| coding. But I don't want to remove them from the dock when not
| used; because if I do, I seem to forget that I have them or would
| need to add them back later. So this solves that perfectly!
| pugdogdev wrote:
| Exactly I had the same problem with coding in different
| programming languages and with different clients. Glad you
| liked it Let me know if something is missing in the app or if
| there are any feature requests. Thanks for the support
| zolotorevich wrote:
| Nice! It would be cool if every desktop in Mission Control had
| its own dock.
| pugdogdev wrote:
| Thanks!
|
| I will check out this option. I also created an Apple Shortcuts
| integration, so if Apple provides a way to integrate desktop
| changes using the automation app, you can configure it to run a
| DockFlow preset for each scenario.
|
| The shortcut and CLI integration are really powerful, I know
| users who set up automations for focus modes, time of day, etc.
|
| Let me know if you manage to create such an integration, and I
| will check that out as well.
|
| Thank you!
| zolotorevich wrote:
| I haven't coded for macOS for a while... well, for almost ten
| years :-) But as far as I remember, there's a
| 'NotificationCenter' which broadcasts system state changes to
| apps. Maybe it has a 'Desktop changed' event?
| nico wrote:
| Love it. I don't really use my dock at all, I keep it hidden, but
| it's such a great concept to separate contexts for different
| situations
|
| And writing this I realized that macOS does have "spaces",
| however they don't switch out the dock, so all the open stuff
| still stays there
|
| Anyway, very cool, congrats on launching
| pugdogdev wrote:
| Thank you! I can see why you hide it. I thought about it a few
| times before creating DockFlow. Also, when building DockFlow, I
| discovered the folders, links, and spacer options in the dock,
| so I built a full custom dock per project with the needed
| folders and links when working on it. This makes the Dock a lot
| more useful.
| nico wrote:
| Your tool also solves something that is a big frustration
| with spaces: they can't be renamed
|
| There are a couple of tools for renaming them but they don't
| work very well, at least not on apple silicon macs
|
| So with DockFlow you actually get to name your different
| contexts, which is really nice
| donatj wrote:
| I don't know if it's possible, but it would be cool to be able to
| share saved Docks as a file of some kind.
|
| In the last 20+ years I've basically perfected where I want
| everything and expect everything to be where I like. I try to
| keep everything in the same order across work and home.
|
| It would need some way to handle different machines having
| different sets of apps.
| pugdogdev wrote:
| Thank you for the feedback Actually, you are able to do it
| right now with DockFlow. In the settings window, you have an
| Export/Import option, so you can use it to share your dock
| between different machines. I am working hard on a public Dock
| preset sharing platform that allows one-click import directly
| in the app. So this process will be easier in the future Let me
| know if you managed to use it. Thanks again
| bdcravens wrote:
| Is there a good way to edit what shows up in the dock, as in put
| a custom label on an icon? Some apps create multiple dock entries
| when you create additional windows, and there's no way to tell
| them apart.
| pugdogdev wrote:
| Hey, I can check it out if I can create custom labels and icons
| for the apps in the presets, Can you give me an example of an
| app with multiple Dock icons? You can send me at:
| appitstudio@gmail.com Thanks
| growlNark wrote:
| Does this affect CMD-TAB functionality? That's the only thing I
| really use the dock for.
| pugdogdev wrote:
| Hey, There are no side effects when using DockFlow. The Dock is
| the same Apple Dock, so after you switch the preset using
| DockFlow, there is no effect on other functionalities. So
| everything should work the same way. Thank you for being
| interested in DockFlow.
| dmje wrote:
| Weird. I literally never use the Dock. Maybe I should. I just
| RayCast my way into apps.
| pugdogdev wrote:
| Yes, I can understand you. Before building DockFlow, I found
| this mostly annoying instead of helpful. But now, using it, I
| am able to make it a little productivity tool and a focus-
| shifting helper. Also, I found out about the folders, links,
| and spacers, so for some projects, it is nice to have all the
| important links and folders right there when I need them
| instead of searching on Finder. I also want to build a Raycast
| integration, I hope to finish it soon.
| jiehong wrote:
| Very cool project! Thanks for sharing!
|
| Makes me realise that a dock of shortcuts that would change per
| app would be nice!
|
| Like if cmd + 1, and up would be linked to a displayed shortcut
| in a dock and change according to the app. (Maybe it's what the
| virtual function bar was on some MacBooks?)
| treetalker wrote:
| It wouldn't be Dock-based, but if you don't mind palette menus
| this could be easily done with Keyboard Maestro.
| pugdogdev wrote:
| Thank you Glad you liked it. Custom app shortcut is out of the
| project scope. I want it to stay a simple and Dock-focused
| solution. But thanks to the CLI tool baked into the DockFlow
| app and the Shortcut integration, you can maybe create some
| automation rules that will trigger even Shortcut changes when
| the dock preset is changed.
| charlus wrote:
| Amazing. I've long thought about doing this exact product, so
| glad you executed - I think it's a great idea. It looks like
| through shortcuts a user can likely interface with the Apple
| "focus" modes, which makes for an iOS like experience.
|
| Of course should be baked into the OS itself... so does this need
| any permissions to work? I don't trust you enough to install it
| so that would be nice to be clear on.
| pugdogdev wrote:
| Hey, Glad you liked it and share the same thought about this
| problem DockFlow doesn't need any special permission to work.
| When you install it, you will automatically have the option in
| the Apple Shortcuts app to integrate with it (like every other
| app that allows this type of integration, this is not
| permission-related). DockFlow works totally offline (except to
| validate the license key), and no data is sent to my server or
| a third-party server. Feel free to ask any questions about it.
| I will be glad to answer
| wordofx wrote:
| Does this help put the dock on multiple monitors permanently? I
| hate current macOS with its single dock on 1 monitor that changes
| randomly.
| matthew-wegner wrote:
| > that changes randomly
|
| Moving the mouse pointer to middle of bottom edge of a screen
| will permanently move the Dock there. As far as I know, there
| is no way to disable this behavior. It's terrible.
|
| For simultaneous multi-monitor, you're probably forced into
| using a full Dock replacement. There are a few options out
| there, but none have ever stuck with me personally.
| pugdogdev wrote:
| Hey, DockFlow dosn't replace the macOS Dock so no, Maybe I will
| try to build integration with other solutions that are
| replacing the Dock and allow multiple Docks on different
| screens. I built it to be as simple as possible without
| impacting the mac performances to I keep the native macOS dock.
| Thanks for showing interest
| einsteinx2 wrote:
| What, if any, permissions does this require?
| pugdogdev wrote:
| No permissions needed, not a Dock replacement, using the native
| macOS Dock, and wanted to keep it as simple as possible. No
| data is sent to my servers or any third-party server. All works
| offline except for the license key validation. Feel free to ask
| any questions, I will be glad to answer. Thank you for showing
| interest in DockFlow.
| einsteinx2 wrote:
| Thanks I wasn't sure if it was possible to manipulate the
| dock like that without some kind of special permissions like
| are needed for menu bar customization (accessibility, screen
| recording, etc). These days I just don't use apps that
| require those unless they're extremely well known/trusted
| (and even then...)
|
| This looks like it's potentially great for my use case. I
| currently have spacers to separate groups of apps in my dock,
| but many of those apps I only use in specific situations
| (things like a bunch of IDEs I don't need when I'm not
| programming).
|
| I'm going to give this a shot. Thanks.
| amusingimpala75 wrote:
| Note: this can be replaced with a bash script and
| https://github.com/kcrawford/dockutil for free
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