update-notify/README.md

update-notify

Desktop notifications for pending updates on Arch Linux.

update-notify runs on a systemd user timer and checks:

• Repo updates, using checkupdates from pacman-contrib.
• AUR updates for packages in a local aurutils repository (aur repo -u).
• Custom kernel rebuilds: when a stock kernel (e.g. linux-lts) has a newer version than your custom build of it (e.g. linux-lts-custom).

It sends one notification, and only when its content changes since the last one:

• Update counts are shown once the total number of updates reaches a threshold (default 30). Reminders for git-monitor and pending firmware updates (fwupdmgr) are added when those tools are installed.
• Kernel rebuild reminders are always shown, even below the threshold.

Requirements

• pacman-contrib
• libnotify and a running notification daemon

Optional:

• aurutils: check AUR packages in the local repository
• fwupd: check for firmware updates
• git-monitor: remind to check git packages

Installation

Build and install the package with the included PKGBUILD:

makepkg -si

Then enable the timer:

systemctl --user enable --now update-notify.timer

The timer runs 5 minutes after boot, then every 6 hours.

Usage

update-notify [threshold]

threshold is the minimum number of updates (repo + AUR) before update counts are shown. The default is 30.

To change the threshold used by the timer, override the service:

systemctl --user edit update-notify.service

[Service]
ExecStart=
ExecStart=/usr/bin/update-notify 50

Configuration

These settings are at the top of the script:

• AUR_REPO: name of the local aurutils repository (default aur-local).
• KERNELS: maps each stock kernel package to its custom build. Kernels where either package isn't installed are skipped.

Changes to the installed script are overwritten on upgrade, so change them in the source and rebuild the package.

Kernel versions are compared without pkgrel, so a stock packaging-only update doesn't trigger a rebuild reminder. A custom build already in the local repository but not installed yet counts as up to date.

The content of the last notification is stored in $XDG_STATE_HOME/update-notify (default ~/.local/state/update-notify). Delete it to get the current notification again.

License

GPL-3.0-or-later. See LICENSE.