ActiveDock VS Compiz

Compare ActiveDock VS Compiz and see what are their differences

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ActiveDock

Application Launcher, improved Dock for macOS, alternative to Apple Dock, uBar, HyperDock

Compiz

Project information. Maintainer: PS Project Management Team. Driver: Compiz Maintainers. Licence: GNU GPL v2, GNU LGPL v2. 1, MIT / X / Expat Licence.

Landing page //
2023-10-10

Landing page //
2018-11-19

ActiveDock features and specs

Customizable Appearance
ActiveDock allows users to customize the appearance of their dock, including themes, icon sizes, and separators, providing a personalized user experience.
Window Grouping
Users can group windows by application, making it easier to manage and switch between multiple applications efficiently.
Improved Productivity
Features like app previews, window previews, and quick switching help enhance productivity by providing quicker access to applications and open windows.
Quick Access to Apps
ActiveDock allows users to create groups of applications and conveniently access them from the dock, which simplifies app management.

Possible disadvantages of ActiveDock

Learning Curve
Some users may find the range of features and customization options overwhelming at first, requiring time to learn and utilize effectively.
Compatibility Issues
Certain versions of macOS might experience minor compatibility issues, affecting the performance and stability of the app.
Cost
ActiveDock is a paid application, which might not be ideal for users looking for a free solution or those unwilling to invest in dock customization.
Resource Usage
ActiveDock may consume additional system resources, which could slightly impact system performance, especially on older or less powerful Macs.

Compiz features and specs

Enhanced Aesthetic Appeal
Compiz provides a variety of visually appealing effects and animations, improving the overall look and feel of the user interface.
Customizability
Users can extensively customize their desktop experience with various plugins and settings to tailor their environment to their personal preferences.
Improved Productivity
Features such as the Exposé-like window overview, workspace switching animations, and enhanced window management help users stay organized and switch between tasks more efficiently.
Wide Range of Plugins
Compiz offers a vast collection of plugins that extend its functionality, allowing users to add new features or enhance existing ones.
Open Source
Being an open-source project, Compiz invites community contributions and continuous improvements, fostering innovation and collaboration.

Possible disadvantages of Compiz

Performance Overhead
Running Compiz may consume considerable system resources, potentially impacting performance on lower-end hardware.
Stability Issues
Some users may encounter instability or crashes, especially when using certain plugins or running it on unsupported hardware configurations.
Complexity
The extensive customization options and numerous plugins can be overwhelming for users unfamiliar with Compiz, making it challenging to set up and manage.
Compatibility
Compiz may not be fully compatible with all desktop environments or applications, potentially leading to graphical glitches or reduced functionality in some cases.
Maintenance
As Compiz is heavily driven by community contributions, the pace of maintenance and updates can vary, sometimes resulting in delayed support for new features or bug fixes.

Analysis of ActiveDock

Overall verdict

ActiveDock is generally considered a good option for Mac users who want greater flexibility and functionality in managing their applications. Users appreciate its customization options and the improvements it brings to multitasking and organization. However, it's important for users to consider their specific needs and ensure compatibility with their system preferences before adopting it.

Why this product is good

ActiveDock is preferred by users who are seeking enhanced organizational capabilities on their MacOS systems. It offers features such as customizable dock, window previews, and groupings of applications which can streamline workflow and improve productivity. Its intuitive interface and additional functionalities provide users with more control over their desktop environment compared to the default MacOS options.

Recommended for

ActiveDock is recommended for power users, designers, developers, and anyone who frequently multitasks and requires a more organized workspace. It's also suitable for users who enjoy personalizing their desktop experience or need more advanced features than those provided by the standard Mac dock.

Analysis of Compiz

Overall verdict

Compiz is considered to be a good choice for those who desire an enriched desktop experience with advanced visual effects. However, it is important to note that it may require a well-configured environment and might not be necessary for everyone, especially those who prefer simplicity over aesthetic enhancements.

Why this product is good

Compiz is a compositing window manager for the X Window System that uses 3D graphics hardware to create fast compositing desktop effects for window management. It's known for its visually appealing and smooth animations, which enhance the user interface experience. Users appreciate Compiz for its ability to provide a more dynamic and engaging desktop environment.

Recommended for

Users who want an enhanced visual desktop experience.
Individuals interested in experimenting with advanced window management effects.
Those running older Linux distributions that support Compiz.
Developers or enthusiasts looking to customize and tweak their desktop appearance.

ActiveDock videos

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ActiveDock

Compiz videos

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Fedora 32 mate compiz install and review.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ActiveDock and Compiz)

ActiveDock

Compiz

Window Manager

50 50%

Window Manager

50% 50

OSX Tools

100 100%

OSX Tools

0% 0

Note Taking

41 41%

Note Taking

59% 59

Mac

41 41%

Mac

59% 59

User comments

Share your experience with using ActiveDock and Compiz. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ActiveDock seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 13 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ActiveDock mentions (13)

MacPlus Autumn Sale 2023
Until the end of September, all my applications (including popular ones like ActiveDock 2, DockView, Command-Tab Plus 2, Stage View) are available at a 30% discount. Source: over 1 year ago
The new Mac OS Ventura looks so cool!
Hello u/YodasFlashlight , you can get ActiveDock and Multidock of the same developer. Both they are supported on M1. Source: almost 3 years ago
App for different docks depending on desktop
Maybe ActiveDock? It’s a dock replacement app. Source: about 3 years ago
Multiple MacOS Docks or MacOS Dock Alternatives
ActiveDock - Cost 10.95$ or 36.95$ - Has all the needed features and a little more, pricing schema is a tad bit weird, as in you can buy just a standard license for 10 and not get future updates so your dock probably will brake in the near future or 36 for all the updates and support, still 30 bucks for a dock Is haywire. Source: over 3 years ago
ActiveDock 2 / DockView for Apple Silicon (M1)
Hi, I recently announced a universal ActiveDock build that runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel. Unfortunately, several users reported problems ... I quickly studied the problem and found the reason in the third-party library ... No matter how it was, this is my mistake ... I bring forgiveness for the inconvenience. Now I am in a small vacation and will deal with this problem in a few days. If you have... Source: almost 4 years ago

Compiz mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Compiz yet. Tracking of Compiz recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ActiveDock and Compiz, you can also consider the following products

uBar - The Dock replacement for the Mac.

Witch - Welcome to the world of W. i. t. c. h.

pekwm - pekwm is a window manager that once up on a time was based on the aewm++ window manager, but it has...

Fences - Keep your desktop organized with Fences. This is a simple software program that allows you to sort the tabs on your desktop and create files that are easily recognizable to you.

xfdashboard - xfdashboard provides a GMONE shell dashboard like interface for use with the Xfce desktop.

Hyperswitch - HyperSwitch provides a compelling alternative to HyperDock for keyboard junkies. What's New

xfdashboard vs ActiveDock

xfdashboard vs Compiz