---
name: "cairo-dock"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "cairo-dock"
version: "3.6.2-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/cairo-dock"
---

# cairo-dock(1)

A dock to launch your programs easily.

## NAME

cairo-dock - A dock to launch your programs easily.

## SYNOPSIS

**cairo-dock** \[options\]

## DESCRIPTION

**Cairo-Dock** is a pretty, light and convenient interface to your desktop, able to replace advantageously your system panel!

It features  **multi-docks, taskbar, launchers** and a lot of useful **applets.**\
 **Applets** can be detached from the dock to act as desktop **widgets.**\
 Numerous ready-to-use **themes** are downloadable in 1 click, and can be easily customized at your convenience.\
 It can use  **hardware acceleration** (OpenGL) to be very fast and low on CPU.

It's recommended to install the PLUG-INS package ( **cairo-dock-plug-ins** ) to have access to more views, dialogues and many plug-ins and applets.

Some **screenshots** are available :\
\
         http://pics.glx-dock.org

**Development site:**\
\
         https://launchpad.net/cairo-dock

## OPTIONS

You can launch **Cairo-Dock** with several options :\
 (Note : you can use these options in one block. For example : cairo-dock -oia )

- **-c, --cairo**

  Force Cairo backend. Use this option if you have issue with the OpenGL mode.

- **-o, --opengl**

  Force OpenGL backend. Cairo-Dock with OpenGL/Hardware acceleration.

- **-O, --indirect-opengl**

  Use OpenGL backend with indirect rendering. There are very few case where this option should be used.

- **-A, --ask-backend**

  Ask again on startup which backend to use.

- **-l, --log \[option\]**

  Log verbosity (options : debug, message, warning, critical, error - default is 'warning').\
   For example : cairo-dock -l debug

- **-F, --colors**

  Force to display some output messages with colors even if these messages are not displayed into a tty.

- **-w, --wait**

  Wait for N seconds before starting. This is useful if you notice some problems when the dock starts with the session.

- **-a, --keep-above**

  Force to keep the dock above other windows.

- **-s, --no-sticky**

  Don't make the dock appear on all desktops.

- **-e, --env**

  Force the dock to consider this environment (gnome, xfce, etc.) - it may crash the dock if not set properly.

- **-d, --dir**

  Force the dock to load the configuration in this directory  (default is ~/.config/cairo-dock).

- **-m, --maintenance**

  Allow to edit the config before the dock is started and show the config panel on startup.

- **-x, --exclude**

  Exclude a given plug-in from activating (it is still loaded though).

- **-f, --safe-mode**

  Don't load any plug-ins and show the theme manager on startup.

- **-W, --metacity-workaround**

  Work around some bugs in Metacity Window-Manager (invisible dialogs or sub-docks)

- **-M, --modules-dir**

  Ask the dock to load additional modules contained in this directory (though it is unsafe for your dock to load unofficial modules).

- **-T, --testing**

  For debugging purpose only. The crash manager will not be started to hunt down the bugs.

- **-E, --easter-eggs**

  For debugging purpose only. Some hidden and still unstable options will be activated.

- **-S, --server**

  Address of a server containing additional themes. This will overwrite the default server address.

- **-k, --locked**

  Lock the dock so that any modification is impossible for users.

## OTHER

Some other options with an output in the terminal :

- **-v, --version**

  Print version and quit.

- **-h, --help**

  Show the help and quit.

- **-C, --capuccino**

  Cairo-Dock makes anything, including coffee !

## FILES

- **~/.config/cairo-dock/**

  Your config files are saved in this repertory. You can use '-d' option to change it.

- **/usr/share/cairo-dock/**

  Data files for Cairo-Dock.

- **/usr/lib/cairo-dock/**

  Binary files for Cairo-Dock and its plug-ins.

## AUTHOR

Most of the **Cairo-Dock** project was written by  **Fabrice Rey** (fabounet) \<fabounet@glx-dock.org\>.

The **Cairo-Dock Team** is currently formed by **Fabounet** (Fabrice Rey) and **Matttbe** (Matthieu Baerts).\
 With the help of **Eduardo Mucelli** for our third-party applets.

Thanks to our former developers: **Mav** (Yann Sladek), **Tofe** (Christophe Chapuis), **Nochka85** (Yann Dulieu), **ChanGFu** (Rémy Robertson), **Paradoxxx Zero** (Florian Mounier), **Necropotame** (Adrien Pilleboue), **Rom1** (Romain Perol), **Ctaf** , **Augur** and **SQP** as well as numerous beta testers and contributors: lylambda, taiebot65, Franksuse64, ppmt, etc. see the 'About' menu in the dock and this web page.\
\
         http://glx-dock.org/userlist\_messages.php

Don't hesitate to contribute to this project ;)\
 Please have a look at this wiki page:\
\
         http://glx-dock.org/ww\_page.php?p=How%20to%20help%20us

This manual page was started by Julien Lavergne \<julien.lavergne@gmail.com\>, for the Debian project (but may be used by others).\
 Updated by Matthieu Baerts (matttbe) \<matttbe@gmail.com\>.

## BUGS

Your bug is maybe a **recurrent problem** (black background, window at startup (use -c or -o), problem with OpenGL, etc.). Please go to:\
\
         http://www.glx-dock.org/ww\_page.php?p=Recurrents%20problems

For any other bugs, you can post them on Cairo-Dock forum:\
\
         http://forum.glx-dock.org\
 or on Launchpad\
\
         https://bugs.launchpad.net/cairo-dock

## WEBSITE

\< **http://glx-dock.org** \>