How can I remove the Finder icon from my Dock? I've started using Forklift as a Finder replacement, so I don't need Finder in my Dock. In fact, I would much rather have Forklift be the farthest left icon so I don't accidentally click on Finder.

The usual method of dragging the app out of the Dock doesn't work, and neither does command-dragging. The contextual menu doesn't allow you to remove the icon.

Is there some way to, on Lion, remove the Finder from the Dock?
Perhaps there's a database or plist file I can change?
There is no easy way to do this, but there is a little hack :)


Navigate to /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/Resources/
Backup DockMenus.plist
Open DockMenus.plist in your favorite text editor with root access
Find section finder-running and add new sub-section

&lt;dict&gt;
    &lt;key&gt;command&lt;/key&gt;
    &lt;integer&gt;1004&lt;/integer&gt;
    &lt;key&gt;name&lt;/key&gt;
    &lt;string&gt;REMOVE_FROM_DOCK&lt;/string&gt;
&lt;/dict&gt;


or just Download my version of DockMenus.plist
In plist editor file should look like this:


Open Terminal and run killall Dock. 
Right click on Finder icon in Dock - Bingo!

 


p.s After Dock restart (manual relaunch or mac reboot) you need manually remove Finder icon from Dock