A secret project, a stubborn developer, and a lot of glossy icons: here’s the story behind macOS’s Dock as it turns 25
Posted by:
Olivia Smith
The macOS Dock, a cornerstone feature of Mac operating systems, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Developed by James Thomson, the Dock’s inception was inspired by Thomson’s DragThing app, becoming a user-friendly interface design that has influenced other platforms, like Microsoft’s taskbar. Originally created during Apple’s transition to Mac OS X, the Dock underwent design changes before becoming the recognizable feature it is today. Despite Thomson’s departure from Apple before its completion, his work on the Dock and DragThing left a lasting impact. The Dock’s influence extended to Microsoft’s taskbar evolution in Windows 7, emphasizing user-centric design and multitasking capabilities. This exemplifies how innovative design elements, like the macOS Dock, can shape industry standards and enrich user experiences across various platforms.
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