Docks (was: Re: How to remove things from task bar

[Peter Flynn]

On 04/05/2022 10:11, Oliver Grawert wrote:
> Am Dienstag, dem 03.05.2022 um 16:46 -0700 schrieb Bob:
>> The thing that is on the left side of the display.
> 
> GNOME calls that thing "the Dock" 

Ever since we settled down to basically three operating systems (Mac, 
Win, Lin) we have seen several different names for this feature. I 
suspect some of the choices have been picked to avoid treading on the 
toes of other OSs (legally or otherwise).

It doesn't help that there are lots of different reasons for such a 
feature. There is also the "novelty-hunting" approach of some developers 
inventing new names by grasping at straws to differentiate their system 
from every other one (which in fact is probably what the users DON'T want).

dock taskbar toolbar panel bryce tray ... any more names?

Uses:

1. somewhere for the launcher icons of frequently-used applications to 
live, to avoid the tedium of going through the system's menus every time 
you want to run an application.

2. somewhere to park (minimize) an application still currently in use 
but not immediately needed, because you are going to want to come back 
to it very soon but you don't need it taking up desktop space at the moment.

3. somewhere for the system to signal that an application is currently 
executing somewhere, even when minimized, parked, suspended, or even hung.

4. Somewhere for the system's own icon[s] to live (menu, shutdown, show 
desktop)

5. Somewhere for status indicators to live: mail, printer, network, 
bluetooth, security, language, keyboard, volume, date/time, and more.

The desktop itself can be used for some of these functions, but this 
(along with self-hiding or pop-up docks) can lead to usability problems.

What's the best way to refer to this thingy in documentation for new users?

Peter