diff --git a/ui/index.html b/ui/index.html
index 6f10d71..432482b 100644
--- a/ui/index.html
+++ b/ui/index.html
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
     <template x-for="app in installedApps" :key="app.id">
       <div class="dock-icon" @click="openApp(app)" :title="app.name">
         <span x-text="app.icon"></span>
+        <span class="dock-dot" x-show="app.running"></span>
       </div>
     </template>
   </div>
diff --git a/ui/js/os.js b/ui/js/os.js
index d02dae4..04cc59f 100644
--- a/ui/js/os.js
+++ b/ui/js/os.js
@@ -122,15 +122,28 @@ document.addEventListener('alpine:init', () => {
     },
 
     // ── Installed apps ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-    // Loaded from crimata.json manifests on the server
-    installedApps: [
-      { id: 'bio',      name: 'Bio',      icon: '🪪', url: '/apps/bio' },
-      { id: 'contacts', name: 'Contacts', icon: '👥', url: '/apps/contacts' },
-      { id: 'blog',     name: 'Blog',     icon: '📝', url: '/apps/blog' },
-    ],
+    installedApps: [],
+
+    async loadApps() {
+      try {
+        const res  = await fetch('/dock/apps')
+        const data = await res.json()
+        this.installedApps = data.map(app => ({
+          ...app,
+          url: `/apps/${app.id}`,
+        }))
+      } catch (e) {
+        console.error('dock unreachable:', e)
+      }
+    },
 
     // ── Init ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-    init() {
+    async init() {
+      await this.loadApps()
+
+      // Refresh running status every 10s
+      setInterval(() => this.loadApps(), 10_000)
+
       // Open bio full-screen on load
       const bio = this.installedApps.find(a => a.id === 'bio')
       if (bio) this.openApp(bio)
diff --git a/ui/styles/dock.css b/ui/styles/dock.css
index bcb87c3..b9f0885 100644
--- a/ui/styles/dock.css
+++ b/ui/styles/dock.css
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 }
 
 .dock-icon {
+  position: relative;
   width: 52px;
   height: 52px;
   border-radius: 12px;
@@ -28,6 +29,17 @@
   user-select: none;
 }
 
+.dock-dot {
+  position: absolute;
+  bottom: -6px;
+  left: 50%;
+  transform: translateX(-50%);
+  width: 4px;
+  height: 4px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.9);
+}
+
 .dock-icon:hover {
   transform: translateY(-8px) scale(1.1);
   background: rgba(255,255,255,0.35);