After spending years using Windows, switching to Linux Mint felt like moving into a new house. Everything was familiar enough to use, yet different enough to make me curious.
One of the first things I started doing was customizing my desktop.
That's when I discovered Plank.
Coming from Windows
As a long-time Windows user, my workflow looked like this:
- Taskbar at the bottom
- Start Menu on the left
- Pinned applications
- System tray on the right
I never thought much about changing it because that's simply how Windows works.
But after installing Linux Mint, I realized something interesting:
Linux gives you the freedom to make your desktop look and work exactly the way you want.
That's where Plank entered my Linux journey.
So, What is Plank?
Plank is a lightweight application dock for Linux.
Think of it as:
- A launcher for your favorite applications
- A place to see running applications
- A modern replacement for the traditional taskbar
If you've ever used:
- macOS Dock
- ChromeOS Shelf
then you'll immediately understand the idea behind Plank.
The best part?
It is incredibly lightweight and works beautifully on Linux Mint.
Installing Plank
Installing it was surprisingly simple:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install plank
Then start it:
plank
Or open it from:
Menu → Accessories → Plank
Within seconds, I had a beautiful dock at the bottom of my desktop.
My First Impression
My first thought was:
"Why didn't Windows ever let me customize the taskbar this much?"
Plank instantly made my desktop feel:
- cleaner
- more modern
- less cluttered
Instead of dozens of icons in the taskbar, I only kept the applications I use every day.
My Current Dock Setup
I pinned:
- Chrome
- Brave
- Terminal
- VS Code
- Files
- System Settings
- Trash
As a front-end developer, this setup covers almost everything I need.
Make Plank Start Automatically
Method 1: GUI
- Open Menu
- Search Startup Applications
- Click Add (+) Icon → Choose application → Plank
This ensures Plank launches automatically after login.
Open Plank Preferences
Hold: Ctrl + Right Click
on an empty area of the dock.
Then click: Preferences
You can also run:
plank --preferences
to open the settings directly.
Understanding the Appearance Settings
One thing I loved about Plank is how simple the settings are.
Theme
I chose: Transparent
It blends beautifully with dark wallpapers.
Position
Bottom
This feels natural and familiar coming from Windows.
Alignment
Center
It gives a clean macOS-style appearance.
Icon Size
56 pixels
Large enough to click comfortably.
Icon Zoom
150%
The animation is surprisingly satisfying.
Understanding the Behaviour Settings
I spent quite some time experimenting with these.
Hide Mode
I settled on: Window Dodge
The dock stays visible until a window touches it.
This turned out to be my favorite option because:
- the dock doesn't waste screen space
- it remains easily accessible
Show Unpinned Applications
Enabled.
I always want to know which applications are running.
Lock Icons
Once I finished arranging my dock, I turned this on to avoid accidentally moving icons.
Docklets: Small Features That Make a Difference
Plank also offers small utilities called Docklets.
Some of them are:
- Battery
- Trash
- CPU Monitor
- Desktop
- Clock
- Applications Menu
The ones I kept: Trash
As a developer, I also found the CPU Monitor useful during builds and heavy browser sessions.
Why I Like Plank More Than the Windows Taskbar
This might sound strange coming from someone who used Windows for years, but I now prefer Plank.
Why?
1. Simplicity
The dock only shows what I need.
2. Beautiful Animations
The zoom effect makes the desktop feel alive.
3. Better Use of Screen Space
The dock can automatically hide.
4. Customization
Themes, transparency, icon sizes, animations—everything can be adjusted.
Windows gives some customization.
Linux gives almost unlimited customization.
Final Thoughts
When I switched from Windows to Linux Mint, I expected a new operating system.
I didn't expect to enjoy customizing my desktop this much.
Plank may seem like a small application, but it completely changed the way I interact with my computer.
The biggest lesson from my Linux journey so far is this:
Linux doesn't force you into one way of working. It gives you the freedom to build your own experience.
And for me, that experience now includes a small, elegant dock called Plank.
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