The Untold Story of the Mac OS X Dock

On January 5th, 2000, Steve Jobs unveiled Mac OS X's Aqua interface, prominently featuring the Dock. This article recounts the story behind its creation. James Thomson, a programmer, reveals how he translated designer Bas Ording's Macromind Director prototypes into functional code. Thomson's prior work on a similar application, DragThing, landed him the Apple job. He recounts being secretly recruited in Ireland for project 'Überbar' (the Dock), ultimately 'killing off' his own DragThing. This inside look reveals details of Mac OS X's early development and the power of individual contributions in technological progress.