How can I stop Ubuntu Dock from extending to the edges?

Question

By default Ubuntu Dock in Ubuntu 17.10 and later releases always extends to the edges (top-bar-to-bottom if placed on the left or right and left-to-right when placed at the bottom) even when it's not filled with icons.

Is there a way to prevent this behaviour (i.e. I want to make the dock-length flexible so that as the number of application icons in the dock increases, it should expand accordingly)?

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In other words, is there a way make Ubuntu Dock look like a "proper dock" instead of a side/bottom panel with full-height/width?

Answer 1

Open Terminal and run

gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock extend-height false

To revert to the "panel mode" run

gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock extend-height true

Answer 2

Using either the Gnome Tweak Tool, or https://extensions.gnome.org/local/, disable the 17.10 built-in Ubuntu Dock extension, and install the more configurable Dash to Dock extension, and it'll give you the shorter dock you desire.

https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/307/dash-to-dock/