A Black Elephant product · Platform

DockStudio

DockStudio is a platform for building applications people work in all day. The window system, docks and panels, tabs, modules, plugins, themes, commands and access rights work out of the box. You write the domain logic — the framework assembles the workspace.

Window system and docks Modules and plugins Works offline Browser and mobile — with the server Source code with Enterprise
workspace — DockStudio Shell
Window system ◆ Docks and panels ◆ Tabs ◆ Modules ◆ Plugins ◆ Themes ◆ Access rights ◆ Command palette ◆ Undo / Redo ◆ Multi-monitor ◆ Offline mode ◆ SDK ◆ Window system ◆ Docks and panels ◆ Tabs ◆ Modules ◆ Plugins ◆ Themes ◆ Access rights ◆ Command palette ◆ Undo / Redo ◆ Multi-monitor ◆ Offline mode ◆ SDK ◆
Why it matters

Half of an app’s code isn’t your domain logic

Roughly half of any professional application is infrastructure: window layouts, toolbars, hotkeys, settings, user profiles, background tasks, logging, updates. DockStudio delivers that half ready-made and proven.

  • No window, dock and layout manager to write
  • No command and hotkey system to invent
  • No settings and profile storage to design
  • No access rights and audit to rebuild
  • No offline mode and sync to solve from scratch

How the platform is built

DocumentsModule.cs
// A module is described declaratively — the shell builds the UI itself
public class DocumentsModule : DockModule
{
    public override void Initialize(IModuleContext ctx)
    {
        ctx.AddPanel<DocumentListPanel>("Documents", DockArea.Left);
        ctx.AddPanel<DocumentPreviewPanel>("Preview", DockArea.Center);

        ctx.AddCommand("doc.create", "Create document")
           .WithShortcut("Ctrl+N")
           .WithPermission("documents.write")
           .OnExecute(() => ctx.Services.Get<IDocumentService>().Create());
    }
}
Who works in DockStudio

Six professions — one platform

From a development environment to a roboticist’s console. Some scenarios are already in production, others are in active development.

Features

What the platform includes

Window system and docks

Draggable panels, floating windows, tabs, splitters, multiple monitors. Users assemble their own workspace; the layout is saved to a profile and moves between machines.

  • Drag & dock panels
  • Floating and docked windows
  • Named layouts
  • Multi-monitor mode

Modules and plugins

Each functional area is an isolated module with its own lifecycle. Modules register with the core and find each other through a service registry, not through direct dependencies.

  • Hot module loading
  • Service registry (DI)
  • Versioned contracts
  • Fault isolation

Commands, hotkeys, background tasks

A single command mechanism: menus, toolbars, context menus, the command palette and hotkeys are defined once. Long-running operations go to the background with progress and cancellation.

  • Declarative commands
  • Command palette
  • Undo/Redo out of the box
  • Cancelable background tasks

Themes and branding

Light, dark and high-contrast themes, icon sets, typography, interface density and DPI scaling. The application can be fully restyled to match the customer's brand.

  • Light / Dark / High-contrast
  • Design tokens
  • Custom icon packs
  • DPI scaling

Access rights and audit

Roles, permissions and visibility of interface elements at the platform level. A panel you have no rights to simply does not appear; every action is logged.

  • Interface-level RBAC
  • Command policies
  • Action log
  • LDAP / Active Directory

Synchronization with external services

GitHub and GitLab repositories, Yandex and Google cloud drives, S3 and network folders connect as application data sources — with offline cache and conflict resolution.

  • Git hosting services and your own Git server
  • Cloud and network storage
  • Two-way sync
  • Service allowlist

Data and offline

An abstraction over data sources, a cache, local storage, a deferred-operation queue and background sync. The application keeps working without a network.

  • Repositories and cache
  • Local storage
  • Offline operation queue
  • REST / gRPC / SQL
Sync module

Repositories and cloud drives — just like local files

The module connects the application to external services: GitHub, GitLab and other repositories, as well as file storage — Yandex Disk, Google Drive, S3 and network folders. Files and repositories become data sources just like the local disk.

  • Git hosting: GitHub, GitLab, Gitea, Bitbucket, your own Git server
  • Storage: Yandex Disk, Google Drive, OneDrive, Nextcloud, S3, WebDAV, network folders
  • Two-way sync with an offline cache and conflict resolution
  • Service allowlist: external clouds are disabled in an air-gapped environment

More about the module

Where the app runs

Desktop by default, browser and phone — with the server side

A DockStudio app is first and foremost a desktop program. If you need access from a browser or a phone, add DockStudio Server: it also handles sync between workstations.

Desktop application

Windows · Linux · Russian OS

The platform's core scenario. Full window system, docks and panels, local data, offline operation. No server side required.

  • Full platform functionality
  • Standalone operation
  • Multi-monitor mode
  • Included in every license

Web client

Chrome · Firefox · Safari · Edge

The same modules open in a browser with no installation. Ideal for seats where installing software is prohibited, for external participants and for quick access from someone else's computer.

  • Modules and permissions shared with the desktop
  • No installation or updates on site
  • Sign-in via corporate SSO
  • Limitations on heavy graphics
Requires DockStudio Server

Mobile application

iOS · Android

A mobile shell for scenarios away from the desk: viewing, approvals, check-ins, photos and notifications. Data accumulates offline and syncs once a connection is available.

  • Adapted module interface
  • Push notifications
  • Offline work and operation queue
  • Camera, geotag, signature
Requires DockStudio Server
A separate product

DockStudio Server

The platform's server side: synchronization, shared data, delivery of the web and mobile clients, unified authentication and background tasks.

  • Web client of the application
  • Mobile client (iOS / Android)
  • Synchronization between seats
  • Unified authentication and SSO
  • Background tasks and queues
  • API for external systems

The server side is licensed separately from the development license. Desktop applications do not need it.

Where to host the server
01

On your own infrastructure

Installed on your servers. Data and users stay inside the perimeter, and you control the updates.

from 120,000 ₽ one-time
02

Hosted by us

We deploy and maintain it: updates, backups, monitoring. No infrastructure of your own required.

from 14,900 ₽ / mo
Proof

ProMatrix is built on DockStudio

Ten modules of an enterprise environment — document management, Engineering, communications, accounting, HR, ERP, CRM, warehouse, projects and analytics — run in a single shell. This is not a demo but a product we sell and support.

Purchasing

How to get DockStudio

Annual subscription

A license for a development team with updates and support. Renewed annually, scales with the number of developers.

Perpetual license

A one-time purchase of a specific version with the right to use it indefinitely. Updates are covered by a separate agreement.

Source code (OEM)

Core source code and the right to embed DockStudio in your own commercial product under your brand.

Server license

DockStudio Server is needed if your application requires web and mobile clients or sync between workstations. Installed on your own infrastructure or hosted by us.

Turnkey development

We build the entire application on DockStudio: discovery, development, implementation, support. Payment by milestone.

Editions and pricing

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is it a framework or a ready-made application?

A platform framework. You get a working application shell and an SDK; the domain logic is written by you or by us under a development contract.

Can we get the source code?

Yes. The Enterprise license includes the core source code and the right to modify it within your organization.

Does the application need internet access?

No. DockStudio is designed for fully air-gapped environments, including offline data work and a deferred-operation queue.

How is it different from an off-the-shelf IDE or BI system?

An off-the-shelf product solves one task the way its author intended. DockStudio is a foundation on which you assemble a workspace for your own tasks: a code editor next to telemetry charts and an equipment control panel.

How are updates released?

Major versions ship once a year, with module contract compatibility guaranteed two versions back. Fixes ship as they are ready.

Is there training for our developers?

Yes: a three-day SDK intensive, project templates and code review of your team's first modules.

Shall we build your app on DockStudio?

We’ll show you the platform, go through your task and estimate the prototype timeline.