How to Use the Command 'dunstify' (with examples)

Dunstify is a powerful notification tool that extends the functionality of notify-send to provide richer and more customizable notifications using Dunst, a lightweight notification daemon. This command is especially useful for users who seek more control over notification appearance and behavior on their Linux systems. Below we explore various use cases of dunstify to demonstrate its versatile capabilities.

Use case 1: Show a Notification with a Given Title and Message

Code:

dunstify "Meeting Reminder" "Don't forget your meeting at 3 PM."

Motivation:

This use case is the most basic and frequently used feature of dunstify. It provides users with a straightforward way to deliver a notification with custom content that includes both a title and a message. This is particularly beneficial for setting up personalized alerts or reminders on your desktop, such as for meetings, deadlines, or events.

Explanation:

• dunstify: Invokes the command to send a notification.
• "Meeting Reminder": This is the title of the notification, indicating what the alert is about.
• "Don't forget your meeting at 3 PM.": The message body of the notification provides additional details that complement the title.

Example Output:

A pop-up notification appears on the screen with the title “Meeting Reminder” and the text “Don’t forget your meeting at 3 PM.”

Use case 2: Show a Notification with Specified Urgency

Code:

dunstify "Battery Low" "Please plug in your charger." -u critical

Motivation:

Sometimes, notifications carry different levels of importance. By setting the urgency of a notification, users can ensure important messages receive proper attention. For instance, a “critical” notification might be used to alert a user to a low battery or an urgent security issue. This allows for prioritization and differentiation among multiple notifications.

Explanation:

• dunstify: The command to display a notification.
• "Battery Low": The title of the message indicating the critical nature of the alert.
• "Please plug in your charger.": Provides necessary details or actions to address the notification.
• -u critical: This option specifies the urgency level as “critical,” which typically alters the notification’s behavior, such as staying on screen until manually dismissed or having a distinct appearance.

Example Output:

The system displays a persistent notification titled “Battery Low” with the message “Please plug in your charger.” It may appear in a different color or styling to highlight its urgency.

Use case 3: Specify a Message ID (Overwrites Previous Messages with the Same ID)

Code:

dunstify "Download Progress" "File is 60% complete" -r 101

Motivation:

Overwriting previous notifications is useful in dynamic contexts where updates or changes are frequent but do not require multiple separate notifications. For instance, showing download progress would benefit from updating the same notification rather than creating a new one each time, reducing clutter and maintaining user focus.

Explanation:

• dunstify: Executes the program to display the notification.
• "Download Progress": A title indicating the subject of the alert.
• "File is 60% complete": Descriptive information related to the update or change in status.
• -r 101: Assigns a unique message ID, here “101”, to replace any existing notifications with the same ID. This allows the original notification to update its content rather than creating a new notification.

Example Output:

A single notification appears on the screen stating “Download Progress” with a message “File is 60% complete.” Any subsequent notifications using the same message ID will replace this notification with the updated status.

Use case 4: Display Help

Code:

dunstify --help

Motivation:

For any command-line tool, understanding available options and usage syntax is essential. The --help option serves as a quick reference guide to all available command options, arguments, and usage patterns for dunstify, aiding users who are new to the command or in need of a refresher.

Explanation:

• dunstify: The command tool in focus.
• --help: A standard argument for displaying help information about the command usage, options, and syntax directly in the terminal.

Example Output:

The command will print detailed help information to the terminal, listing available options, usage synopsis, and details on each argument and how to use them.

Conclusion

Dunstify offers a robust set of features for sending timely and informative notifications tailored to different needs, whether it’s to manage everyday tasks, convey urgent updates, or streamline information through customizable channels. By understanding its versatile usage, users can significantly enhance their system’s alerting capabilities with precision and clarity.