# 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 ```sh sudo av install brew:libnotify ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install libnotify ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install libnotify ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: devel/libnotify/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add libnotify ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libnotify from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install gir1.2-notify-0.7 ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: gir1.2-notify-0.7 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install libnotify ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libnotify from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#libnotify ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libnotify/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S libnotify ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: libnotify from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install libnotify-devel ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libnotify-devel from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:libnotify - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 0.8.8 - **Source summary:** Library that sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LGPL-2.1-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - notify-send (cli) - notify-send (alias) ## Dependencies - gdk-pixbuf - gettext - glib ## Build dependencies - docbook-xsl - gobject-introspection - gtk-doc - meson - ninja - pkgconf ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 0.8.8 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotify - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## 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 Notes library-like package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - library-like package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** libnotify - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - gir1.2-notify-0.7 - 0.8.6-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: gir1.2-notify-0.7 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Introspection files) - Debian apt - libnotify-bin - 0.8.6-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libnotify-bin from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Utilities) - Debian apt - libnotify-dev - 0.8.6-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libnotify-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Development files) - Debian apt - libnotify-doc - 0.8.6-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libnotify-doc from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Documentation) - Debian apt - libnotify4 - 0.8.6-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libnotify4 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon - Nix - libnotify: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/li/libnotify/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - gir1.2-notify-0.7 - 0.8.3-1build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: gir1.2-notify-0.7 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Introspection files) - Ubuntu apt - libnotify-bin - 0.8.3-1build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libnotify-bin from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Utilities) - Ubuntu apt - libnotify-dev - 0.8.3-1build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libnotify-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Development files) - Ubuntu apt - libnotify-doc - 0.8.3-1build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libnotify-doc from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon (Documentation) - Ubuntu apt - libnotify4 - 0.8.3-1build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libnotify4 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | sends desktop notifications to a notification daemon - apk - libnotify - 0.8.8-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libnotify from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Desktop notification library | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotify - apk - libnotify-dev - 0.8.8-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libnotify-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Desktop notification library (development files) | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotify - apk - libnotify-doc - 0.8.8-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: libnotify-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Desktop notification library (documentation) | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotify - dnf - libnotify - 0.8.8-1.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libnotify from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Desktop notification library | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotify - dnf - libnotify-devel - 0.8.8-1.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: libnotify-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Development files for libnotify | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotify ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Matched curated package taxonomy and local package facts. - [gdk-pixbuf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gdk-pixbuf/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gettext](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gettext/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [glib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/glib/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [docbook-xsl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/docbook-xsl/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gobject-introspection](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gobject-introspection/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gtk-doc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gtk-doc/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [meson](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/meson/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [audacious](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/audacious/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [webkitgtk](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/webkitgtk/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [gkrellm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gkrellm/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, desktop, system. - [libgtop](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libgtop/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c-library, cli, gnome, system. - [shared-mime-info](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/shared-mime-info/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, desktop, system. - [twm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/twm/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, desktop, system. - [wallpaper](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/wallpaper/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, desktop, system. - [xcursorgen](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/xcursorgen/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, desktop, system. - [xdotool](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/xdotool/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, desktop, system. - [baobab](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/baobab/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, gnome, system. - [libhandy](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libhandy/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: c-library, cli, gdk, gdk-pixbuf, gettext. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/libnotify.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/libnotify.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph