Cairo Dock and GTK Controls
Use Kodachi's custom dock to open privacy tools, grouped command windows, isolated applications, and the signed package storefront without memorizing terminal commands.
Choose the surface that matches your task
Cairo Dock
Learn the main bar, sub-docks, Quick and More windows, live application area, and all nine Containers shortcuts.
System controlsGTK Control Center
Use switches, choices, reports, Apply buttons, progress, and confirmations across the 13 grouped control surfaces.
Application isolationIsolation Manager
Choose Native, Firejail, or Podman and manage reviewed, discovered, custom, running, image, and profile views.
Software and sourcesRepository Manager
Browse Kodachi packages, compare channels, inspect trust, manage APT sources, apply updates, and install favourite apps.
How the pieces fit together
The dock is a launcher, not proof of state
An icon tells you where a control lives. The window's status strip, switch position, result panel, or command log tells you what the machine actually reported. If a state cannot be read, Kodachi shows it as unknown instead of guessing.
Read the control before using it
| Control | Meaning | When it changes the system |
|---|---|---|
| Switch | A persistent on or off state read from the machine. | After you change it and press the contextual Apply button. |
| Radio choice | One mode, protocol, profile, or level from an exclusive set. | After Apply, Connect, or the action named in the footer. |
| Show | A read-only status or report. | It does not intentionally change state. |
| Open | Another window, editor, terminal, browser, or monitor. | The opened application may have its own controls. |
| Run | A one-time operation. | Immediately after activation, with progress and a visible result. |
| Red danger action | A destructive, disruptive, or protection-lowering operation. | Do not rely on color alone. In the grouped command windows, only Logout, Reboot, and Shutdown currently confirm. Repository Manager confirms selected downgrades, Kodachi package removals, source or channel changes, and installing all updates. Normal package installs and favourite-app install or remove do not add that confirmation. Reset Podman Workbench has its own confirmation. Other red actions can run immediately. |
Privileges and waiting
- A password prompt is expected when a GTK application delegates a privileged action through PolicyKit.
- Keep the window open while APT, a container operation, or another long-running task is active. Its result and recovery advice remain in the window.
- A disabled control is not a dead button. Read the nearby reason: a prerequisite, channel, credential, status, or compatible runtime may be missing.
When a click appears to do nothing
- Check whether the icon opens a tray applet rather than a normal window.
- Read the GTK result panel or Repository Manager command log.
- Check whether the control is disabled and read its reason text or tooltip.
- For dock launchers, open More -> Status to inspect current service and network state.
- If a window is already open, use the taskbar area of Cairo Dock to bring it forward.
Do not repeat a privileged package action blindly
If Repository Manager reports that dpkg was interrupted, follow the exact recovery sentence in its log before installing or updating anything else.