What is Eclipse Docks

Eclipse Docks is a modular web framework for building IDE-like applications. It provides:

• App layer — You define an app by its extensions and optional layout; the app root is the chosen layout's component. Layouts (e.g. IDE, dashboard) are registered via contributions; users switch via the toolbar. The framework handles registration, lifecycle, and rendering.
• Extension system — Features (editor, terminal, AI, settings, etc.) are packaged as extensions. Each extension registers with the core and can contribute UI and commands.
• Contributions — Declarative UI: tabs in sidebars, buttons on toolbars, HTML blocks. Contributions are bound to targets (e.g. main sidebar, bottom panel).
• Commands — Named actions with handlers. Toolbars and menus reference commands; the command palette and AI can execute them.
• Core services — Workspace, settings, dialogs, tasks, events, and dependency injection.

You can build a downstream app by defining an AppDefinition and choosing which extensions to enable, or author new extensions that register with extensionRegistry, contributionRegistry, and commandRegistry.

See Architecture, Docks vs Theia, Security and safety, and the Guide for details.