Show HN: DockFlow – Switch between multiple macOS Dock layouts instantly

https://dockflow.appitstudio.com/

41•pugdogdev•4h ago

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:* €4.99 Price increases to €9.99 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.

Comments

moonlighter•4h ago

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•3h ago

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•3h ago

Nice! It would be cool if every desktop in Mission Control had its own dock.

pugdogdev•3h ago

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•2h ago

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•3h ago

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•2h ago

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•2h ago

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•3h ago

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•2h ago

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•2h ago

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•2h ago

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•2h ago

Does this affect CMD-TAB functionality? That's the only thing I really use the dock for.

pugdogdev•2h ago

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•1h ago

Weird. I literally never use the Dock. Maybe I should. I just RayCast my way into apps.

pugdogdev•28m ago

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•1h ago

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•1h ago

It wouldn't be Dock-based, but if you don't mind palette menus this could be easily done with Keyboard Maestro.

pugdogdev•39m ago

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•1h ago

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•43m ago

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•1h ago

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•1h ago

> 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•47m ago

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•1h ago

What, if any, permissions does this require?

pugdogdev•34m ago

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•27m ago

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.

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Show HN: DockFlow – Switch between multiple macOS Dock layouts instantly

Comments

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