macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install libnotifylocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install libnotifyMacPorts ports tree · devel/libnotify/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install libnotify with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Library that sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon. Version 0.8.8 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add libnotifyAlpine Linux edge package indexes · libnotify · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install gir1.2-notify-0.7Debian stable package indexes · gir1.2-notify-0.7 · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install libnotifyFedora Rawhide package metadata · libnotify · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#libnotifynixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/li/libnotify/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S libnotifyArch Linux sync databases · libnotify · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install libnotify-developenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · libnotify-devel · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Library that sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon
Project links
Commands and aliases
- notify-send
history
Project history and usage
libnotify is the GNOME library and notify-send tool for sending passive desktop notifications to a notification daemon. It implements the freedesktop.org org.freedesktop.Notifications model through a small GLib/GObject-facing C API.
Project history
The GNOME documentation identifies Notify API version 0.7 and library version 0.8.8, with authors including Marco Trevisan, Logan Rathbone, Christian Hammond, Mike Hearn, and John Palmieri. The README describes libnotify as a library for sending notifications defined by the freedesktop.org Desktop Notifications specification.
Over the 0.7 series, libnotify modernized its build and command-line tooling: NEWS records Meson support in 0.7.8, a notify-send man page and autotools removal in 0.7.9, and richer notify-send behavior in 0.7.10 such as replacement, wait, actions, responses, and failure exit codes.
Adoption history
libnotify became the common packaging surface for scripts and desktop programs that need cross-desktop notification popups. Its notify-send executable is especially visible because it lets shell scripts and CLI tools trigger the same notification service used by graphical applications.
How it is used
Programs initialize libnotify, create NotifyNotification objects, set hints such as urgency, category, image, sound, transient, and desktop-entry, and submit notifications through a notification daemon. The README notes that sandboxed applications can use the XDG Portal Notification API path, and that GLib applications should prefer GNotification.
Why package nerds care
libnotify is package-nerd significant because it is a small library with a very visible command-line tool and a cross-desktop D-Bus contract. It often appears as a light dependency in desktop stacks, test scripts, and system hooks where notify-send is the public face of the library.
Timeline
- 0.7.8: NEWS records Meson build-system support and notify-send support for full URLs as hint values.
- 0.7.9: NEWS records a notify-send man page, Darwin linking fixes, and autotools removal.
- 0.7.10: NEWS records notify-send support for replacement, waiting, actions, responses, and failing exit codes.
- 0.7.13: NEWS records use of Desktop Portal Notification when running confined under snap or flatpak.
- 2024-08-18: The freedesktop.org Desktop Notifications Specification was published as version 1.3.
Related projects
- Related standards and APIs include org.freedesktop.Notifications, D-Bus, XDG Portal Notification API, and GLib GNotification.
- Related implementations include desktop notification daemons used by GNOME and other freedesktop-compatible desktops.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
library-like package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- library-like package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:library-like
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 3 runtime dependencies.
- Build metadata lists 6 build dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
notify-send | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-07
manager version0.8.8
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotify
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotifynone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:libnotify |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.8.8 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/libnotify |
| Homepage | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotify |
| Repository | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotify |
| Upstream docs | https://gnome.pages.gitlab.gnome.org/libnotify |
| License | LGPL-2.1-or-later |
| Source archive | https://download.gnome.org/sources/libnotify/0.8/libnotify-0.8.8.tar.xz |
| Dependencies | gdk-pixbuf, gettext, glib |
| Build dependencies | docbook-xsl, gobject-introspection, gtk-doc, meson, ninja, pkgconf |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | libnotify |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
gir1.2-notify-0.7 0.8.6-1
sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Introspection files)
sudo apt install gir1.2-notify-0.7- Section: introspection
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libnotify
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
Debian apt95%
libnotify-bin 0.8.6-1
sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Utilities)
sudo apt install libnotify-bin- Section: utils
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libnotify
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
Debian apt95%
libnotify-dev 0.8.6-1
sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Development files)
sudo apt install libnotify-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libnotify
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
Debian apt95%
libnotify-doc 0.8.6-1
sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Documentation)
sudo apt install libnotify-doc- Section: doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: libnotify
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
Debian apt95%
libnotify4 0.8.6-1
sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon
sudo apt install libnotify4- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libnotify
- 3 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
Nix95%
libnotify
nix profile install nixpkgs#libnotify- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
Ubuntu apt95%
gir1.2-notify-0.7 0.8.3-1build2
sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Introspection files)
sudo apt install gir1.2-notify-0.7- Section: introspection
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libnotify
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
Ubuntu apt95%
libnotify-bin 0.8.3-1build2
sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Utilities)
sudo apt install libnotify-bin- Section: utils
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libnotify
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
Ubuntu apt95%
libnotify-dev 0.8.3-1build2
sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Development files)
sudo apt install libnotify-dev- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libnotify
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
Ubuntu apt95%
libnotify-doc 0.8.3-1build2
sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Documentation)
sudo apt install libnotify-doc- Section: utils
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: libnotify
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
Ubuntu apt95%
libnotify4 0.8.3-1build2
sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon
sudo apt install libnotify4- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libnotify
- 3 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
apk95%
libnotify 0.8.8-r0
Desktop notification library
https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotify
sudo apk add libnotify- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libnotify
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
apk95%
libnotify-dev 0.8.8-r0
Desktop notification library (development files)
https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotify
sudo apk add libnotify-dev- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libnotify
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
apk95%
libnotify-doc 0.8.8-r0
Desktop notification library (documentation)
https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotify
sudo apk add libnotify-doc- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libnotify
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
dnf95%
libnotify 0.8.8-1.fc45
Desktop notification library
https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotify
sudo dnf install libnotify- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: libnotify
- 8 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
dnf95%
libnotify-devel 0.8.8-1.fc45
Development files for libnotify
https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotify
sudo dnf install libnotify-devel- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: libnotify
- 4 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnotify
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment