Cairo-Dock vs dmenu
Cairo-Dock
glx-dock.orgdmenu
tools.suckless.orgSide by side
| Figure | Cairo-Dock | dmenu |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · App Launcher Software | 7.8 (#16) | 8.7 (#5) |
| Spec score · App Launchers | 7.7 (#18) | 8.6 (#7) |
| Spec score · App launchers | 7.4 (#26) | 8.6 (#7) |
| Customization | Features can be added through plug-ins or applets, and applets can be written in C or another language. | The dmenu site links to a patches collection with contributed modifications. |
| Founded | 2007 | 2006 |
| Installation | The site provides installation instructions for Ubuntu and Debian repositories and describes using packages for those systems. | The README says dmenu installs into the /usr/local namespace by default and can be built and installed with make clean install. |
| Support | The project directs users with repository problems to its forum when the issue is not covered by its troubleshooting section. | The suckless community page identifies the dev mailing list as a place for dmenu users, development discussion, bug reports, and general discussion. |
Plans
In their own words
Cairo-Dock
Cairo-Dock has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
dmenu
dmenu is a free dynamic menu for X that handles large sets of user-defined menu items and can launch commands. It runs on Linux and was originally designed for the dwm window manager. Community scripts apply it to tasks such as browsing directories, managing clipboard contents, accessing passwords, and controlling music; contributed modifications are available in a patches collection. The project provides a browsable source repository and a Git clone command. Building requires Xlib header files, and the README describes building and installing with `make clean install`, with files placed in the `/usr/local` namespace by default. The listed release is dmenu 5.4, dated 2025-08-09. Its source uses the MIT/X Consortium License, which permits use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale of copies subject to its conditions, while disclaiming warranties. The suckless dev mailing list is identified as a venue for user questions, development discussion, bug reports, and general discussion.