Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

DockLock Pro VS Notepad++

Compare DockLock Pro VS Notepad++ and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

DockLock Pro logo DockLock Pro

The worlds first app that stops your Mac Dock from jumping between screens without system hacks and gives you unmatched automation control over where and how your Dock appears

Notepad++ logo Notepad++

A free source code editor which supports several programming languages running under the MS Windows environment.
  • DockLock Pro
    Image date //
    2025-12-11
  • DockLock Pro
    Image date //
    2025-12-11
  • DockLock Pro
    Image date //
    2025-12-11

DockLock Lite is the core app that finally stops the Mac Dock from jumping between screens. It locks the Dock to the display you choose, prevents accidental moves in multi display setups, and can hide the Dock on shared screens during meetings to avoid distractions and leaks. Lite automatically relocates the Dock after wake or screen changes and remembers your preferred screen for each display combination, for example built in display at home and external monitor at work. It runs as a lightweight, fully sandboxed menu bar app with a 7 day free trial and subscription model.

DockLock Plus includes everything in Lite and adds an automation layer for power users. On top of stable locking, Plus can make the Dock follow your mouse, your active window, or specific apps you select. Every action is scriptable through Apple Shortcuts, URL scheme, CLI, Raycast extension, menu bar controls and hotkeys, so you can tie Dock behavior to focus changes, workspaces, meeting apps or custom scripts. It also uses auto relocation and per setup memory, but is sold as a one time lifetime license instead of a subscription.

DockLock Pro builds on Lite and Plus and is designed to remove the remaining limits of Dock placement. Pro will let you put a horizontal Dock on any edge of any screen, move a vertical Dock to any display, center it, create partial docks and tune how much space the Dock reserves so windows can use more of the screen. Pro is still under active development and is distributed directly from the website instead of the Mac App Store. Customers who purchase DockLock Lite or DockLock Plus on the Mac App Store will receive a discount when upgrading to DockLock Pro once it is released.

In short, Lite fixes the jumping, Plus adds deep automation and scripting, Pro adds complete freedom of Dock positioning and layout.

  • Notepad++ Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-07

DockLock Pro

$ Details
paid Free Trial $2.0 / Monthly
Platforms
Mac Mac OSX MacOS
Release Date
2025 February
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California
Founder(s)
Ihor July
Employees
1 - 9

DockLock Pro features and specs

  • Stop Mac Dock jumping screens
    Prevents the Dock from randomly moving to other monitors when the cursor touches their edges by continuously relocking it to your preferred layout and correcting unwanted jumps after wake or screen changes
  • Lock Mac Dock to selected displays
    Lets you choose exactly which displays are allowed to host the Dock using the Allow Dock on Display controls so the Dock can appear only on those screens and never on the others
  • Hide Dock during screen sharing or meetings
    For multi monitor setups you can exclude the shared screen from the allowed displays so the Dock automatically relocates to another monitor and stays off the presentation. For single screen setups DockLock Plus adds helper apps and automations that fully hide or restore the Dock when meetings start or end
  • Dock follows mouse
    Enables a dynamic mode where the Dock jumps and locks to whichever display the cursor enters giving a fluid multi display workflow while still preventing accidental jumps
  • Dock follows active window
    Moves the Dock to the display that currently holds the focused window so your primary apps always have the Dock on the same screen as their main window
  • Dock follows selected apps
    Adds a Follow Apps When Active mode where you define a list of apps and whenever one of them becomes active the Dock relocates to the display that contains that app window
  • Control Dock via Shortcuts URL scheme CLI Raycast menu bar and hotkeys
    Provides full automation and external control including App Intents for Apple Shortcuts and Siri a DockLockPlus URL scheme for scripting and launchers a command line interface an official Raycast extension rich menu bar commands and the ability to trigger actions from macOS hotkey based automations
  • Auto relocate Dock on wake and screen changes
    Monitors display configuration changes and Mac wake events and automatically relocates and relocks the Dock to your chosen display so it stays where you want it after sleep lid open reconnecting external monitors or resolution changes
  • Per location display profiles for Dock placement
    Remembers Dock placement for each unique display combination so you can keep the Dock on the internal screen in a home setup and have it automatically move to a specific external display at work or in other multi display configurations

Notepad++ features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    Notepad++ is completely free to download and use, and its source code is open for anyone to review, modify, and contribute to.
  • Lightweight and Fast
    Notepad++ is lightweight, meaning it uses fewer system resources compared to more complex IDEs, allowing for quick loading times and responsiveness.
  • Syntax Highlighting
    Supports syntax highlighting for over 80 programming languages, making it easier to read and write code.
  • Plugin Support
    Offers a wide range of plugins to extend its functionality, including customization options, code analyzers, and more.
  • Tabbed Interface
    Allows multiple documents to be opened in the same window through a tabbed interface, which greatly improves productivity.
  • Regular Updates
    Frequently receives updates and patches, improving its features and fixing bugs.

Possible disadvantages of Notepad++

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Lacks some of the advanced features and integrations of full-fledged IDEs, which might be necessary for professional software development.
  • Windows Only
    Natively available only on Windows, although it can be run on other systems using compatibility layers like Wine, which might affect performance.
  • Manual Plugin Management
    Managing plugins can be cumbersome, as users often need to download and install them manually.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Although generally stable, users sometimes encounter crashes or bugs, particularly when using many plugins.

Analysis of Notepad++

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Notepad++ is considered a good editor for both programmers and general users who need a reliable and feature-rich text editing tool.

Why this product is good

  • Notepad++ is a popular text and code editor due to its lightweight design, wide array of features, and support for numerous programming languages. It offers syntax highlighting, macro recording, customizable interfaces, and plugin support, making it highly versatile for various coding and text editing tasks. Its open-source nature allows for community-driven improvements, and it runs efficiently on Windows systems without consuming significant resources.

Recommended for

    Notepad++ is recommended for programmers, developers, and writers who need a robust text editor with advanced features. It's ideal for anyone using Windows who wants a free, efficient, and customizable editing solution capable of handling a wide range of file types and coding languages.

DockLock Pro videos

DockLock Lite in action

Notepad++ videos

Notepad++ Review

More videos:

  • Review - Notepad++ Review
  • Review - Notepad++ Text Editor: Intro for Beginners

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DockLock Pro and Notepad++)
Mac
100 100%
0% 0
Text Editors
0 0%
100% 100
Utilities
100 100%
0% 0
IDE
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing DockLock Pro and Notepad++.

What makes your product unique?

DockLock Pro's answer

DockLock Pro is the first project ever created specifically to control the Mac Dock location across multiple displays. Before it there simply was no tool focused on making the Dock stay exactly where you want it.

It is also the only app in the Mac App Store that can both stop the Dock from jumping between screens and automatically relocate it according to your preferences such as a fixed display or rules based movement.

Apple does not provide any public API or system setting to control the Dock in this way. DockLock Pro is built on deep reverse engineering and low level understanding of how the Dock works which allows it to achieve behavior that is normally impossible with standard system tools or regular apps.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

DockLock Pro's answer

DockLock Pro is built around the original Mac Dock instead of trying to replace it. Competing tools create their own custom docks and then push you to hide or disable the real Dock by patching its configuration. That can interfere with normal system behavior and still cannot deliver exactly the same feel and integration that the native Dock has.

With DockLock Pro the Apple Dock keeps working exactly as Apple designed it. You get precise control over which display it uses and how it behaves without giving up native animations, context menus, stacks, drag and drop or Mission Control integration. You are not trading the real Dock for an imitation just to stop it from jumping.

Many replacement docks are not sandboxed and modify system files or settings to achieve their behavior. DockLock Lite and DockLock Plus are fully sandboxed Mac App Store apps that do not inject code or patch the system. DockLock Pro uses knowledge gained from deep reverse engineering of the Dock process yet still focuses narrowly on one task. Control where the real Dock appears across your displays with the smallest possible impact on the rest of the system.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

DockLock Pro's answer

DockLock Pro is aimed at Mac users who rely on multi display setups and need precise, predictable Dock behavior every day. This includes developers, designers, editors, traders, IT and security professionals, and people who present or screen share regularly. They often use external monitors at home and at work, move between different display configurations, and are sensitive to workflow interruptions when the Dock jumps to the wrong screen. DockLock Pro targets those who want to keep the native Dock experience while gaining low level control, automation and stable placement that the system itself does not provide.

What's the story behind your product?

DockLock Pro's answer

A DockLock Pro began on Feb 4 2025 when I discovered a way to control the Mac Dock without modifying the system and built a small internal prototype that stopped the Dock from jumping between screens. That proof of concept was never released, but it proved the idea was real and led to a public promise on r/MacOS to ship an app that stops the Dock from jumping anywhere. Since then the project has grown into DockLock Lite and Plus on the Mac App Store and DockLock Pro as the advanced version that fulfills the original vision. The entire product line is created and maintained by a completely independent solo developer with no team and no investors.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

DockLock Pro's answer

DockLock Lite started as an internal prototype built with Qt SDK. After proving the idea worked I rewrote the entire project in pure Objective-C using native macOS frameworks. This removed the cross platform layer, significantly reduced CPU usage and allowed DockLock apps to support macOS versions starting from 10.10

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

DockLock Pro's answer

A DockLock Pro does not publish a list of logo customers. The app is sold directly to individual professionals and small teams rather than through enterprise contracts, and I deliberately avoid tracking or profiling users. Based on support requests and feedback, most customers are power users with multi display setups such as developers, designers, video editors, engineers, traders and IT or security professionals, but I do not name or promote specific companies to keep customer privacy and independence of the project.

User comments

Share your experience with using DockLock Pro and Notepad++. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare DockLock Pro and Notepad++

DockLock Pro Reviews

We have no reviews of DockLock Pro yet.
Be the first one to post

Notepad++ Reviews

  1. the best assistant at work

    I've been using it for a long time, I can say that it has become my main tool in my work. First, you need to get used to using it and look at all the functionality. Overall, it's useful for me!


Boost Your Productivity with These Top Text Editors and IDEs
Notepad++ provides a tabbed interface, allowing you to work on multiple files simultaneously. Its intuitive user interface makes it easy to navigate and edit your code efficiently. With features like syntax highlighting, code folding, and auto-completion, Notepad++ helps you write clean and error-free code.
Source: convesio.com
13 Best Text Editors to Speed up Your Workflow
If youโ€™re a beginner who needs a text editor, Notepad++ is far easier to understand than some of the other options on this list. Not only that, but youโ€™ll enjoy the ability to locate words and replace them all, while also revealing certain bits of code with highlighting. As for advanced users, Notepad++ also does the trick, with its syntax highlighting for HTML, PHP, and...
Source: kinsta.com
Top 10 Free CSV Readers in 2023!
Notepad++: A popular text editor for Windows that has a CSV plugin for viewing and editing CSV files.
Source: www.retable.io
Top 10 Notepad++ Alternatives for Mac in 2022
First, you can get a better version of Notepad++ Mac. For instance, Setapp caters to your own Notepad++ Mac. You can also Notepad++ Mac using an emulator. Typically, the emulator is a form of creating a layer of compatibility where you can run the Notepad++ Mac on your operating system. Another thing you can do t enjoy Notepad++ Mac is by using Wine. This can help you have e...
Source: www.imymac.com
The Top 7 Notepad++ Alternatives for You
I have provided you with mainly free Notepad++ alternatives here. This is not that surprising because Notepad++ is free also. When choosing a Notepad++ alternative you need to consider what you are going to use it for and your level of programming experience.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Notepad++ seems to be a lot more popular than DockLock Pro. While we know about 176 links to Notepad++, we've tracked only 1 mention of DockLock Pro. 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.

DockLock Pro mentions (1)

  • Show HN: A tiny macOS app that stops your Dock from jumping between monitors
    I need to ask you to rename your project. "DockLock" is the name of my existing product, and using the same name for a similar macOS app creates clear confusion. https://docklockpro.com DockLock Lite was created in February 2025, and I have public evidence of prior use and release history. Your current presentation also implies invention of a solution that I had already created and shipped earlier. I am not... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago

Notepad++ mentions (176)

  • Microsoft dumps AI into Notepad as 'Copilot all the things' mania takes hold
    I would like to recommend notepad++. It does the job and I especially like it for multi-document and the other feautures like regex replace and plugins, etc... https://notepad-plus-plus.org. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • How to Run Windows Applications on Linux Using Bottles: A Step-by-Step Guide
    Are you transitioning from Windows to Linux but struggling to replace tools like Notepad++ or WinMerge? Thanks to Wine and Bottles, you can now run Windows-only applications natively on Linux. This guide will show you how to install Windows apps on Linux effortlessly, perfect for .NET developers or anyone needing Windows tools in a Linux environment. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Currency converter in Rust + WebAssembly
    Then we need to modify Cargo.toml file located in your folder that you created with the above command, right click and edit I use notepad++ (to download notepad++ use this link (https://notepad-plus-plus.org/) so you will get the option to edit file directly. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • What I learned from my NodeJS course (part 1)
    Always working in the js-fundamentals.js file Open the file with any text editor. For now, use Notepad++. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • 6 free Markdown (.md) WYSIWYG desktop Editors โ€“ Part3
    Where to get it: Https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ Plugin: inside Plugin Admin. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing DockLock Pro and Notepad++, you can also consider the following products

Sidebar - The five best design links of the day, freshly redesigned

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

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

Sublime Text - Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, html and prose - any kind of text file. You'll love the slick user interface and extraordinary features. Fully customizable with macros, and syntax highlighting for most major languages.

DockFix - Customize Your macOS Dock Like Never Before

GNOME - An easy and elegant way to use your computer, GNOME is designed to put you in control and get things done.