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Cairo-Dock VS Open Shell

Compare Cairo-Dock VS Open Shell and see what are their differences

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Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

Cairo-Dock logo Cairo-Dock

Cairo-Dock / GLX-Dock 3. 4 is now available. Cairo-Dock 3. 4 is finally released! One year after the 3.

Open Shell logo Open Shell

Open Shell is a fork of the Classic Shell project for Windows that getting back the classic start...
  • Cairo-Dock Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • Open Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-07

Cairo-Dock features and specs

  • Customization
    Cairo-Dock offers extensive customization options, allowing users to modify the appearance and behavior of the dock to suit their preferences.
  • Plugins and Applets
    The dock includes a range of plugins and applets that enhance its functionality, such as weather forecasts, system monitoring, and quick access to frequently used applications.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Cairo-Dock has an intuitive and visually pleasing user interface that makes it easy for users to navigate and access their applications.
  • Lightweight
    The dock is relatively lightweight and doesn't consume significant system resources, making it suitable for use on older hardware.
  • Multi-Platform Support
    Cairo-Dock is available on multiple operating systems, including Linux distributions and BSD, broadening its user base.

Possible disadvantages of Cairo-Dock

  • Stability Issues
    Some users have reported stability issues and crashes, which can impact the overall user experience.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, the plethora of customization options may be overwhelming for new users, leading to a steeper learning curve.
  • Compatibility
    Cairo-Dock may face compatibility issues with certain desktop environments or configurations, necessitating additional troubleshooting.
  • Documentation
    The available documentation and support resources may be insufficient for some users, potentially causing difficulties in resolving issues or maximizing the dock’s potential.
  • Dependency on 3D Compositing
    Although the dock can run without 3D compositing, its full range of graphical effects and features requires a 3D compositing window manager, limiting its functionality on systems without it.

Open Shell features and specs

  • Customization
    Open Shell provides extensive customization options, allowing users to modify the Start menu to fit their preferences, from design to functionality.
  • Familiar Interface
    It offers a classic start menu which is familiar to users of older Windows versions, making it easier for them to navigate.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, it allows for community contributions, making it more transparent and potentially more secure.
  • No Cost
    Open Shell is free to use, providing a cost-effective solution for users who want a different Start menu experience without paying for software.
  • Regular Updates
    The project is fairly well-maintained, receiving updates that add new features and fix potential issues, improving user experience over time.

Possible disadvantages of Open Shell

  • Compatibility Issues
    There could be compatibility problems with certain Windows updates or third-party applications, requiring troubleshooting and fixes.
  • Learning Curve
    While it offers many customization options, new users might find the settings and customization process overwhelming and confusing initially.
  • Community Support
    As an open-source project, it relies heavily on community support rather than professional customer service, which can be a drawback for users needing prompt assistance.
  • Resource Usage
    Though generally lightweight, Open Shell can consume additional system resources, which might be impactful on less powerful machines.

Cairo-Dock videos

+ Add

Cairo Dock on Linux Mint Cinnamon

Open Shell videos

+ Add

Classic Menu for Windows 10 with Open Shell

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Cairo-Dock and Open Shell)

Cairo-Dock

Open Shell

App Launcher
100 100%
App Launcher
0% 0
Note Taking
30 30%
Note Taking
70% 70
Productivity
100 100%
Productivity
0% 0
LMS
0 0%
LMS
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Cairo-Dock and Open Shell. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Cairo-Dock seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 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.

Cairo-Dock mentions (3)

  • With Latte Dock no longer being maintained, what's another good Dock to use for KDE?
    Have you tried Cario-Dock? Its not a native KDE app, but it does support KDE integration. I installed it on KDE Neon after the Latte Dock announcement. No crashes, and it has a lot of features. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Some Skeuomorphic Icons and Themes for Linux Devices
    If you like Macs, the dock program Cairo-Dock has a bunch of built in themes, including one to look like the OSX style dock with the cool reflections: https://glx-dock.org. Source: over 2 years ago
  • How can I get this type of look on a Dock?
    The closest thing you can do this is with cairo dock. It take some time, to customize it to make it look like what you see in the picture. It was a trend a decade ago, but not sure how much the package is maintained right now. For alternative you can check out docky which works pretty well with Gnome and its cousins, and if you are using KDE I better advice you to stick with latte dock. Source: about 3 years ago

Open Shell mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Cairo-Dock and Open Shell, you can also consider the following products

DockbarX - DockbarX is a standalone dock that groups and launches applications.

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.

RocketDock - RocketDock is a Mac OS X dock clone.

Classic Shell - Classic Shell was developed for Windows 8 since that was the first version of the popular operating system to forgo the iconic Start menu.

Gnome-Pie - Gnome-Pie is a circular application launcher for Linux.

Start Menu X - Start Menu X with Start Button. Power users know how inconvenient and time-consuming it is to launch programs from the system menu.

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