How to dock an application in the Windows desktop?

Question

I would like to develop a small notifications application for Windows in .NET that docks on the right/left side of the screen (not consuming more than 300px), should always

Answer 1

You want to create an AppBar!

Basically call SHAppBarMessage() with ABM_NEW, ABM_QUERYPOS, ABM_SETPOS and ABM_ACTIVATE, in that order.

If you want to do it from managed code, you'll have to write the interop yourself, or use this from pinvoke.net.

Answer 2

The most reliable way would be to register your application as an Application Desktop Toolbar (AppBar).

You will need to interop to do this, here is a Code Project article on doing this with C#, it should be a fair starting point. http://www.codeproject.com/KB/dotnet/AppBar.aspx