This is a simple program that displays desktop notifications for unread mail (or actually any search query) in the notmuch database. The notification can optionally have a button to run a mail client.
When a message is shown in a notification, it is internally marked as 'recently seen' and not shown again for two days (configurable).
The program requires Python 3, setuptools, pygobject and notmuch. It can be installed together with its dependencies using:
pip install .To use, execute notifymuch after new mail is indexed (for example in a post-new hook). The program forks and stays in the background while the notification is active. If upon launch a notification is already active, it is updated.
Configuration is stored in ~/.config/notifymuch/notifymuch.cfg, which is created on first run. Settings that can be set there:
- query
The notmuch search query for the messages. Default is
is:unread and is:inbox.- sort
What to show first: oldest or newest. Anything option other than oldest is considered newest. Default is
oldest.- mail_client
The command to launch the preferred mail client. If empty, the button isn't shown. Default is
gnome-terminal -x mutt -y.- recency_interval_hours
Each message is notified about at most once in this time interval. Default is
48.- hidden_tags
Tag names that are not shown in the notification. Default is
inbox unread attachment replied sent encrypted signed.- notification_format
Format string for notification. Default is
%%T %%t (%%s %%d)- message_length
Length of message preview
- %%T
List of tags in square brackets
- %%t
Subject of message
- %%S
Address of sender
- %%s
Name of sender
- %%d
Relative time of receiving (eg.
57 minutes ago)- %%D
Absolute time of receiving (eg.
04:19 22.07.2020)- %%c
Message preview (first
message_lengthcharacters of message)