What I learned building a Mac Dock that switches with my work

rudrasatani — Fri, 06 Nov 2026 07:42:11 +0000

I built HeyDock to give different kinds of work their own Mac Dock. My Writing mode and Building mode can have different apps, sites, and widgets. Here are two implementation details that mattered once I started using it as a daily Dock.

Treat classification as a fallback

A browser can be where you write, debug, or get distracted. The app name alone is a poor signal. HeyDock checks the rules the user set first, then its local cache. Only after those checks does it ask Apple’s on-device model, if the model is available. If Apple Intelligence is off, the rules and cache still work. Users can also correct a verdict directly.

The model is asynchronous, so a result can arrive after the user has switched windows. HeyDock checks that the subject is still in front before updating the Dock’s indicator. Without that check, the UI can describe the window you just left.

Make Dock replacement reversible

HeyDock can sit next to the system Dock. Full replacement is an option. In that mode, the app saves the system Dock’s existing auto-hide preferences before hiding it and restores those settings when HeyDock quits. The app also checks for preferences left behind by an interrupted session so there’s a recovery path.

HeyDock is available as a one-time purchase for Macs with Apple silicon running macOS 26 or later. The product site has the demo and details.

This write-up was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the implementation.

DEV Community: rudrasatani

What I learned building a Mac Dock that switches with my work

Treat classification as a fallback

Make Dock replacement reversible