ntfy: Free Push Notifications from the Command Line

If you run long commands in the terminal, you know the problem: an nmap scan takes minutes, a large file copy runs in the background, a YouTube download churns away. You do not want to sit there watching the cursor blink. ntfy (pronounced "notify") is a free, open-source tool that sends push notifications to your phone when commands finish.

How It Works

The idea is straightforward. You append a command to the end of your long-running process, and when it finishes, ntfy sends a push notification to your device. The video demonstrates this with an nmap scan, a file copy on Windows, and a YouTube download on Mac. In each case, one additional command at the end of the pipeline triggers the notification.

ntfy can be self-hosted, and its feature set goes well beyond simple "done" notifications. It supports attachments, scheduled notifications, phone calls, and actions that let you respond to notifications with automated follow-ups. You can send custom messages with different priorities, and the notification system works across platforms.

Key Takeaways

• ntfy is free, open-source, and self-hostable
• It sends push notifications to your phone when terminal commands finish
• Beyond basic alerts, it supports attachments, scheduled messages, phone calls, and response actions
• Works across Mac, Windows, and Linux

Resources

• ntfy.sh -- Official ntfy website and documentation