Show only running programs

[velissarious]

The desktop is already used for icons of files and shortcuts/aliases etc, the dock should be used only for running programs.

Currently, the dock duplicates desktop functionality.

This is an interesting article that describes the development of the task bar on Windows 95, from "plates" (icons on the desktop for minimized running programs) to the development of the task bar.
https://socket3.wordpress.com/2018/02/03/designing-windows-95s-user-interface/

vs

The dock could be a Windows 95 like taskbar without the start/applications menu which could be located on the universal menu bar like in system 7 (instead of the apple icon it should be titled applications or programs).

The dock should have the title of the running program always visible.

[grahamperrin]

… the title of …

More importantly, as hinted in the Paint example:

• the title of the file (the name of the document); the title of the window

– see

Window menu

[kettle-7]

Judging by the amount Mac OS users pin to their dock, I think it would be working backwards.

If you like, you can unpin those apps.