Plank

What is Plank?

Plank is a simple, lightweight dock designed for the X11 windowing system. It has been around for over a decade, making it a mature and stable choice for users who prefer a traditional taskbar alternative. Unlike modern compositors, it relies on X11 extensions, which means it is not designed for Wayland sessions. It focuses on being unobtrusive and fast, avoiding heavy animations or complex configurations.

This tool is best suited for users running X11-based desktop environments like GNOME, KDE, or XFCE who want a persistent dock without the overhead of a full taskbar. It appeals to those who value simplicity and low resource usage. If you are on a Wayland session, Plank will not work, and you should look at alternatives like Plasmoid docks or generic launchers instead.

Compared to Bartender, which manages the macOS menu bar, Plank serves a different purpose. Bartender hides and organizes the top bar, while Plank adds a bottom dock. For Linux users coming from Windows, it feels like a lighter, more focused version of the Windows taskbar. It lacks the advanced window management features of Bartender but excels in providing a clean, static interface for launching apps.

Best for: X11 users who want a simple, lightweight dock for quick app access without complex configuration.

Key features of Plank

• Dock-style application launcher
• Shows indicators for running applications
• Supports multiple monitors
• Configurable icon size and position
• Lightweight and low resource usage
• X11 only compatibility
• Simple configuration via GUI or config file

Tips for Windows users

If you are coming from Bartender, note that Plank does not hide or manage the top panel; it adds a dock at the bottom. You will need to configure your desktop environment to hide the default taskbar if you want a cleaner look. There are no file formats to migrate, but you may need to adjust your workflow to use the dock for launching apps instead of a start menu. Remember that Plank requires an X11 session; if you are on Wayland, this tool will not launch.