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dunst-project/dunst

Free

Lightweight and customizable notification daemon

FreeFree tier
Type
Open Source
Visit Website GitHub (38 stars)

About dunst-project/dunst

Dunst is a highly configurable and lightweight notification daemon for Linux systems. It replaces the default notification server and offers extensive customization of fonts, icons, timeouts, and colors via a simple configuration file. Users can define rules to change the look or behavior of notifications matching specific patterns, run custom scripts on incoming notifications, and pause or review notification history with keyboard shortcuts. Built with minimal dependencies (dbus, libxinerama, libxrandr, libxss, glib, pango/cairo, gdk-pixbuf), it supports both X11 and Wayland. Dunst is available in many package repositories and can be built from source using Makefile or Meson.

Key Features

Highly customizable appearance: fonts, icons, timeouts, colors via configuration file
Scripting support: run custom scripts on notifications matching a pattern (e.g., speak notifications)
Rule-based customization: change look/behavior of notifications based on sender, urgency, or pattern
Pause notifications with adjustable numeric levels to selectively mute less urgent alerts
Notification history: replay the last notification or browse past notifications via keyboard shortcut

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Lightweight with minimal dependencies
  • Highly configurable via text file (dunstrc)
  • Supports scripting for advanced automation
  • Pause functionality with numeric levels for fine-grained control
  • Active open-source project with responsive community
Cons
  • Linux/Unix only; no native Windows or macOS support
  • May require manual configuration for optimal experience
  • Limited to desktop notifications (no mobile notifications)

Best For

Replacing default notification daemon with a lightweight alternativePersonalizing notification appearance and behavior for desktop applicationsAutomating actions based on incoming notifications (e.g., play sounds, run scripts)Managing notification overload by pausing or selectively muting alertsCatching missed notifications with a history viewer