Since its initial release, Apple’s macOS has undergone significant transformations, yet it still holds onto many distinctive features that define its uniqueness. Among these is the beloved Dock, a feature that allows users to effortlessly access their most-used applications with a simple click. Interestingly, the macOS Dock just recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and there’s an intriguing tale behind its origins.
The Origins of the macOS Dock
James Thomson, a developer known for the acclaimed scientific calculator app PCalc, was part of the Apple team during the development of the inaugural Mac OS X, which succeeded the classic Mac OS 9. Notably, Thomson was instrumental in creating the macOS Dock and has shared some fascinating behind-the-scenes insights about the project on his blog.
The Dock made its debut on January 5, 2000, presented to the public by Steve Jobs at the Macworld Expo. On that same day, Jobs also revealed the first look at the Aqua user interface, which was not included in the earlier beta iterations of Mac OS X.
“As the presentation drew to a close, he showcased the Dock. You all recognize the Dock, which has graced the bottom of your Mac screen for what seems like ages (if you keep it in the right spot, that is),” Thomson remarked.
The original Dock that came with Mac OS X was quite distinct from the final version. Instead of the floating icons we know today, it consisted merely of a straight line of square icons. This was due to the fact that the familiar design had not yet been finalized. “My task was to transform the prototypes by Bas Ording made in Macromind Director into functional code.”
Before his tenure at Apple, Thomson developed an app called DragThing, which acted as a Dock for Macintosh computers. Users could utilize it to create shortcuts for launching applications, folders, and documents, keeping them always visible on the desktop. This innovative app was a stepping stone for Thomson’s career at Apple, leading to his involvement in a project that would effectively integrate his concept into the Mac operating system.
Amid all this, while I was in Cupertino, I was approached about working on a top-secret project codenamed “Überbar.” I was shown some prototypes and was told that only six people had seen it; if any leaks occurred, they would know I was the one who spoke about it. I thought, if anyone was to finally eliminate DragThing, it should be me.
A World of Secrecy
The Dock’s development occurred concurrently with that of Finder, another integral component of Mac OS X. However, the code began its writing phase in Mac OS 9 before the new OS was even launched. “I distinctly recall the first time we got the code to operate on Mac OS X.” Naturally, anything related to OS X was closely guarded, with only a select few at Apple having access to the new Aqua interface.
It took quite a while before I actually saw the shiny, lickable buttons of Aqua while working on the Dock. There were even rumors that any screenshot of Aqua contained the hardware MAC address of the machine encoded in it, allowing for leak tracing.
Things became increasingly complex for Thomson, who was based in Ireland at the time, working from the Cork office. Allegedly, Steve Jobs was extremely upset upon discovering this and insisted that Thomson relocate to the U.S. to collaborate with the team in Cupertino. “Word has reached me that the engineer behind the Dock is in f*cking Ireland,” Jobs reportedly expressed to a manager.
Despite his reluctance to move, Thomson began making frequent trips to Cupertino while the team informed Jobs that he had agreed to relocate. “I occupied an office adjacent to the Finder team. I can only imagine Steve passing by in search of me, only to be told he just missed me, while I was being hurried onto a plane on the other side of the ocean.”
Following the Macworld 2000 event, where the Aqua interface and the Dock were introduced, Thomson was informed he needed to make the move to Cupertino permanently, or he would risk losing his job. He chose to resign instead. Ultimately, another engineer entirely reworked the Dock before the official release of the first Mac OS X.
After Macworld 2000, when the Aqua interface and the Dock were unveiled, I was advised to relocate to Cupertino permanently, or I’d risk losing my position. I opted to resign. Ultimately, the Dock underwent a complete rewrite by a different engineer prior to the official launch of the first Mac OS X.
Regardless of the absence of Thomson’s original code, the Dock continues to thrive today—not just on Mac computers, but also on iPhones and iPads. Be sure to check out the full account on Thomson’s blog.
Further Reading
FTC: We utilize income-generating auto affiliate links. More.
