Cairo-Dock 2.1.3 Is Out, Features A Simplified Configuration Panel

After 3 months of hard work, the new version of GLX-Dock/Cairo-Dock (2.1.3) is out. The new version brings a lot of fixes for some existing problems such as smoother auto-hide, automatic detection of indirect rendering for Intel/ATI cards, but the most visible change in Cairo Dock v2.1.3 is the new configuration panel which is now very easy to use. According to Fabounet (the Cairo Dock developer):

Even my Mom could configure the dock ^_^

However, an advanced mode is still available so you can fully customize your dock to the smallest detail.


Other changes in Cairo Dock 2.1.3:

• Thumnbails of windows now have an emblem to help recognize the application.
• Icons pointing on sub-docks can display the sub-dock's content to quickly know what is inside the sub-dock.
• When an application demands your attention, only its icon will appear when the dock is hidden, so that you are quietly notified of any event even when your dock is hidden.
• The ShowDesktop applet lets you change the resolution of the screen in 1 click.
• The Dnd2Share applet which is used to quickly share some text/picture/video/files can now directly sends the clipboard's content (like an instant screenshot).

Here are some screenshots with the new, simplified configuration:

But the less visible and yet most important change is probably the release of the 1.0 version of the DBus API. This lets you control your dock from an external program (the terminal, a script, etc). It even lets you write complete applets in any language (Python, Vala, Mono, even Bash !).

Full documentation regarding this Dbus API is available HERE.

It is very comprehensive and comes with a lot of exemples, and even a functional demonstration applet. The Dbus API has already been used to write several applets (a Gnomenu applet, an xchat applet, a Calendar applet, etc).

Here is an example:
Be sure that the Dbus plug-in is active in the config panel, and run the following command in a terminal :

dbus-send --session --dest=org.cairodock.CairoDock /org/cairodock/CairoDock org.cairodock.CairoDock.ShowDock boolean:false

Your dock is now hidden ! Now run the opposite command :

dbus-send --session --dest=org.cairodock.CairoDock /org/cairodock/CairoDock org.cairodock.CairoDock.ShowDock boolean:true

Your dock is back! Although this example may look trivial, it shows you have a complete control over your dock, its icons, and its desklets.

Install Cairo Dock

If you use the daily Cairo Dock PPA (unstable), make sure you disable it and remove Cairo Dock before proceeding to the steps below!

For any Ubuntu version (the Ubuntu version will be grabbed by the command), paste this in a terminal to add the Cairo Dock PPA:

sudo -v
echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/cairo-dock-team/ppa/ubuntu $(lsb_release -sc) main ## Cairo-Dock-PPA" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys E80D6BF5

And then install Cairo Dock:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install cairo-dock cairo-dock-plug-ins

The PPA can be found HERE (in case you just want to download the .deb files, etc.).

And finally, here is a video with Cairo Dock in action (please note that Cairo Dock v2.0.0 is featured in the video, not the latest 2.1.3!):




For a lot of screenshots with various Cairo Dock themes, see our Cairo Dock v2 post.

Special thanks to Fabounet who sent us all this info!

Cairo-Dock 2.1.0 Released, OpenGL Mode Now Works With The Latest OpenSource ATI And Intel Drivers

When Cairo Dock v2.0 was out, it instantly became my favourite dock for Linux.

Unfortunately, some Intel and ATI graphic card users were not able to run it in OpenGL mode (which is what's amazing about Cairo Dock). If you were among them, this is going to be great news for you: Cairo Dock in OpenGL mode now works with the very latest OpenSource drivers for ATI and Intel video card.

A lot of changes have been made to both Cairo Dock and the applets but before you read about that, I'd like to point out a great new applet called dnd2share which you can use to share files instantly. Just drag and drop any file and it will be instantly available to share. It supports Dropbox, Imageshack, Pastebin. It supports: text, video, images and any file for Dropbox obviously). After a files has been uploaded, the share link is automatically copied to the clipboard.

Other changes in Cairo Dock 2.1.0:

• Some "annoying bugs" from the Taskbar, PowerManager, Clipper and the keyboard indicator have been squashed.
• The dock at the same became more stable and faster especially when OpenGl is activated (the applet Clock or Cairo-Penguin are now virtually using no CPU resources).
• The configuration panel has been polished (the presentation as improved and the options are better grouped, etc)
• The pictures ratio is now correct (windows thumbnail and Switcher, etc)
• It is easier to create a new main dock or to move the icons from one dock to another.
• A new mode "extended dock" has appeared (the dock will fill up the all side of the screen).

Themes have also been reviewed and now have a user friendly interface: you can sort the theme by name, rating or simplicity. You can even rate them yourself once you have downloaded them.

Applets changes in v2.1.0:

• Shortcuts and Notes now have a improved desklet mode, which will allow you to display on your Desktop the icons normally drawn by Nautilus as well you "post-it".
• The digital clock has a better rendering.
• The applets 'Rhythmbox' and 'XMMS' merged to form a new applet MusicPlayer, It now allows to control just about any player.
• 'Cpusage', 'Ram-meter' and 'Nvidia' also merge into the System-Monitor applet, which offers basic system information (CPU, RAM, Nvidia card temperature, etc)

Also, Cairo Dock moved to Launchpad and you can either add a weekly or stable PPA which you can add if you use Ubuntu / Debian / Linux Mint.

Installing Cairo Dock v2.1.0 in Ubuntu

1. Stable. Open a terminal and paste the following commands:

sudo -v
echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/cairo-dock-team/ppa/ubuntu  $(lsb_release -sc) main ## Cairo-Dock-PPA-Stable" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys E80D6BF5
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install cairo-dock

2. Weekly PPA:

sudo -v
echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/cairo-dock-team/weekly/ubuntu $(lsb_release -sc) main ## Cairo-Dock-PPA-Weekly" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys E80D6BF5
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install cairo-dock

Installing Cairo Dock v2.1.0 in Debian / Linux Mint

1. Stable:

Use the same repository as for Ubuntu


2. Weekly PPA:

su
echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/cairo-dock-team/weekly-debian/ubuntu jaunty main ## Cairo-Dock-PPA" | tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list
apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys E80D6BF5
apt-get update
apt-get install cairo-dock

Installing Cairo Dock v2.1.0 in other Linux distribution

See THIS page.



Note: to preview all the themes, head over to my post about Cairo Dock v2.0.