macos - How to create a helper application (LSUIElement) that also has a (removable) dock icon

Question

I've submitted a helper application (using LSUIElement)to the Mac App Store. I was under the false impression that the App Store install process would put a dock icon for helper apps.

How can I create a dock icon that the user could remove, while the status bar app runs independently (like the popular app Caffeine)? Do I need to create a non-LSUIElement app that loads the LSUIElement app, or is there a better way?

Answer 1

Instead of using LSUIElement, use NSApplication's setActivationPolicy: method. By default, the application will have a dock icon, but by changing the activation policy to NSApplicationActivationPolicyAccessory, you get the same effect as LSUIElement while being able to change it programatically (the documentation for NSApplicationActivationPolicyAccessory says it is equivalent to LSUIElement=1).

- (void)applicationDidFinishLaunching:(NSApplication *)app {
    if([[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] boolForKey:@"HideDockIcon"])
        [NSApp setActivationPolicy:NSApplicationActivationPolicyAccessory];
}