https://github.com/andrestubbe/fastnotification

Native Java notifications for Windows 11. Replaces ugly SystemTray with real OS Toasts — custom icons, action buttons, progress bars. No Java coffee cup. JNI-powered.
https://github.com/andrestubbe/fastnotification
cross-platform desktop java java-ui jni native notifications system-tray-alternative windows-toast winrt
Last synced: 3 days ago
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Native Java notifications for Windows 11. Replaces ugly SystemTray with real OS Toasts — custom icons, action buttons, progress bars. No Java coffee cup. JNI-powered.
Host: GitHub
URL: https://github.com/andrestubbe/fastnotification
Owner: andrestubbe
License: mit
Created: 2026-04-17T18:58:35.000Z (about 1 month ago)
Default Branch: main
Last Pushed: 2026-04-17T20:16:51.000Z (about 1 month ago)
Last Synced: 2026-04-17T21:09:55.604Z (about 1 month ago)
Topics: cross-platform, desktop, java, java-ui, jni, native, notifications, system-tray-alternative, windows-toast, winrt
Language: C++
Homepage:
Size: 22.5 KB
Stars: 0
Watchers: 0
Forks: 0
Open Issues: 0
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README

          # FastNotification — Native Windows toast notifications for Java

 [ALPHA] - v0.1.0

**⚡ Ultra-fast native Java notifications — Replace ugly Java SystemTray with real OS-native Toasts**

[![Build](https://img.shields.io/badge/build-passing-brightgreen.svg)]()

[![Java](https://img.shields.io/badge/Java-17+-blue.svg)](https://www.java.com)

[![Platform](https://img.shields.io/badge/Platform-Windows%2010%2B-lightgrey.svg)]()

[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)

[![JitPack](https://jitpack.io/v/andrestubbe/FastNotification.svg)](https://jitpack.io/#andrestubbe/FastNotification)

[![GitHub stars](https://img.shields.io/github/stars/andrestubbe/FastNotification.svg)](https://github.com/andrestubbe/FastNotification/stargazers)

```java

// Quick Start — Native Windows 11 Toast

FastNotifications.notify("Build finished", "FastImage compiled in 42ms");

// Full control — Custom icon, action buttons, urgency

FastNotifications.builder()

    .title("Download complete")

    .message("File saved to /downloads")

    .icon("fastjava.png")           // Your app icon, not Java coffee cup

    .urgency(Urgency.HIGH)

    .action("Open", this::openFile)

    .action("Dismiss", null)

    .timeout(Duration.seconds(5))

    .show();

```

**FastNotifications** is a **high-performance native notification library for Java** that replaces the ugly, limited `java.awt.SystemTray` with **real OS-native notifications**. Built for **Windows 11 native WinRT Toasts** with full customization.

> **Powered by FastCore** — Part of the FastJava ecosystem for native JVM acceleration.

**Keywords:** java notifications, windows toast java, java system tray alternative, native notifications java, winrt toast java, jni notifications, cross platform notifications java, java desktop notifications, java notification library

---

## Table of Contents

- [Why FastNotifications?](#why-fastnotifications)

- [Key Features](#key-features)

- [FastNotifications vs SystemTray](#fastnotifications-vs-systemtray)

- [Installation](#installation)

- [Quick Start](#quick-start)

- [API Reference](#api-reference)

- [Integrations](#integrations)

- [Build from Source](#build-from-source)

- [Platform Support](#platform-support)

- [Project Structure](#project-structure)

- [License](#license)

---

## Why FastNotifications?

`java.awt.SystemTray` notifications are:

- **Ugly** — Always shows the Java coffee cup icon

- **Limited** — No action buttons, no progress bars, no priorities

- **Deprecated** — Uses old balloon API on Windows

- **Inconsistent** — Looks different on every OS

**Plus:** Windows 10/11 requires app registration for modern notifications — FastNotifications handles this with **3 integration levels**:

| Level | Effort | Result |

|-------|--------|--------|

| **Level 1** (5 min) | Build DLL → Run | Basic notifications (Balloon) |

| **Level 2** (2 hrs) | + Sparse Package | Full WinRT Toasts (like Teams) |

| **Level 3** (3-10 days) | + MSIX + Store | Store distribution |

FastNotifications solves this with:

- **Flexible integration** — Choose your setup level

- **Native OS integration** — Real Windows 11 WinRT Toasts (Level 2+)

- **Custom app icons** — Your logo, not Java's

- **Rich features** — Action buttons, progress bars, urgency levels (Level 2+)

- **JNI-powered** — Direct OS API access, zero Java UI overhead

---

## Key Features

- **Windows 11 Native Toasts** — WinRT XML-based with full customization

- **Custom App Icons** — Replace the ugly Java coffee cup

- **Action Buttons** — "Open", "Dismiss", custom callbacks

- **Progress Notifications** — Download/install progress bars

- **Urgency Levels** — Low, Normal, High, Critical

- **Zero Dependencies** — Pure JNI, no JavaFX, no Swing, no AWT

---

## FastNotifications vs SystemTray

| Feature | SystemTray | FastNotifications |

|---------|------------|-------------------|

| Icon | ❌ Java coffee cup | ✅ Your custom icon |

| Windows 11 style | ❌ Deprecated balloon | ✅ Native WinRT Toast |

| Action buttons | ❌ None | ✅ Custom buttons |

| Progress bars | ❌ None | ✅ Native progress |

| Urgency/Priority | ❌ None | ✅ High, Critical |

---

## Installation

### Maven

```xml

    

        jitpack.io

        https://jitpack.io

    

    com.github.andrestubbe

    fastnotification

    v1.0.0

```

### Gradle

```groovy

repositories {

    maven { url 'https://jitpack.io' }

}

dependencies {

    implementation 'com.github.andrestubbe:fastnotification:v1.0.0'

}

```

---

## Quick Start — Choose Your Setup Level

FastNotification offers **3 integration levels** for different needs:

| Level | Setup Time | Features | Best For |

|-------|-----------|----------|----------|

| **Level 1** | 5 minutes | Basic notifications (Balloon style) | Testing, internal tools |

| **Level 2** | 2 hours | Full Windows 11 Toasts with actions | Production apps |

| **Level 3** | 3-10 days | Microsoft Store integration | Store distribution |

### Level 1 — Quick Test (5 min)

```bash

# 1. Build native DLL

 [ALPHA] - v0.1.0

compile.bat

# 2. Compile Java

 [ALPHA] - v0.1.0

mvn compile

# 3. Run demo

 [ALPHA] - v0.1.0

java --% -cp "target\classes" -Djava.library.path="native" --enable-native-access=ALL-UNNAMED fastnotifications.Demo

```

```java

// Simple code

FastNotifications.notify("Hello", "From Java!");

```

> ⚠️ **Note:** Windows 10/11 may hide balloon notifications. This is Microsoft's design, not a bug. See [Level 2](#level-2--production-setup) for full toasts.

### Level 2 — Production Setup (2 hours)

For **modern WinRT Toasts** (like Outlook/Teams):

1. **Create identity package** (one-time setup)

   ```powershell

   cd installer

   .\create-package.ps1 -SelfSigned

   .\register-sparse.ps1 -InstallPath "C:\Program Files\YourApp"

   ```

2. **Build WinRT DLL**

   ```bash

   # Edit compile.bat: uncomment WinRT lines

   compile.bat

   ```

3. **Use full features**

   ```java

   FastNotifications.builder()

       .title("Download complete")

       .message("Ready to install")

       .icon("app.png")

       .action("Install", this::install)

       .action("Later", null)

       .show();

   ```

📖 **Details:** See `installer/WINDOWS_NOTIFICATION_GUIDE.md`

### Level 3 — Microsoft Store

For Store distribution with auto-updates:

- Full MSIX packaging required

- Code-signing certificate needed

- Store submission process

📖 **Details:** See Microsoft Store developer documentation

---

## Basic Usage Examples

### Simple Notification

```java

import fastnotifications.FastNotifications;

// Level 1 & 2: Works with both DLLs

FastNotifications.notify("Build finished", "Completed in 42ms");

```

### Tagged Notifications (Updates Existing)

```java

// Show progress that updates in place

FastNotifications.notifyTagged("download-1", "Downloading", "50%...");

Thread.sleep(2000);

FastNotifications.notifyTagged("download-1", "Downloading", "100% - Done!");

```

### Builder API (Level 2+)

```java

FastNotifications.builder()

    .title("Task Completed")

    .message("Backup finished successfully")

    .icon("myapp.png")

    .urgency(Urgency.NORMAL)

    .action("View Results", () -> openResults())

    .action("Close", null)

    .timeout(Duration.seconds(10))

    .show();

```

### Progress Notification (Level 2+)

```java

ProgressNotification progress = FastNotifications.progress(

    "Installing", 

    "FastCore 1.2.0"

);

for (int i = 0; i <= 100; i += 10) {

    progress.update(i);

    Thread.sleep(100);

}

progress.complete("Installation finished");

```

---

## API Reference

### Core Methods

| Method | Description | Status |

|--------|-------------|--------|

| `notify(title, message)` | Simple toast notification | ✅ Working |

| `notify(title, message, icon)` | Toast with custom icon | ✅ Working |

| `notifyTagged(tag, title, message)` | Tagged notification (replaces existing) | ✅ Working |

| `notifyTagged(tag, title, message, icon)` | Tagged with icon | ✅ Working |

| `builder()` | Create advanced notification | ✅ Working |

| `progress(title, message)` | Progress notification | 🚧 Planned |

### NotificationBuilder

| Method | Description |

|--------|-------------|

| `tag(String id)` | Unique identifier (replaces existing with same tag) |

| `title(String text)` | Notification title |

| `message(String text)` | Body text |

| `icon(String path)` | PNG icon path (replaces Java coffee cup) |

| `urgency(Urgency)` | LOW, NORMAL, HIGH, CRITICAL |

| `timeout(Duration)` | Auto-dismiss timeout |

| `action(String, Runnable)` | Add button with callback |

| `show()` | Display notification |

### Urgency Levels

| Level | Windows Behavior |

|-------|-----------------|

| `LOW` | Quiet notification, no sound |

| `NORMAL` | Standard toast |

| `HIGH` | Persistent, shows on lock screen |

| `CRITICAL` | Forces immediate attention |

---

## Integrations

### FastRobot Debug Mode

Enable real-time toast notifications for bot actions:

```java

import fastnotifications.integrations.FastRobotDebug;

// Enable debug notifications

FastRobotDebug.enable();

// Now all FastRobot actions show toast:

// - "🖱️ Click #1 at (500, 300)"

// - "⌨️ Key #5: Pressed: ENTER"

// - "📸 Screen Capture: 1920x1080 in 12ms"

// Show session summary

FastRobotDebug.showSummary();

```

See [FastRobotDebug.java](src/main/java/fastnotifications/integrations/FastRobotDebug.java) for full API.

---

## Build from Source

See [COMPILE.md](COMPILE.md) for detailed build instructions.

---

## Platform Support

| Platform | Version | Status | Notes |

|----------|---------|--------|-------|

| Windows 11 | v1.0 | ✅ Full support | WinRT Toast XML, all features |

| Windows 10 | v1.0 | ⚠️ Partial | Requires v1903+, some features limited |

| macOS | — | ❌ Not planned | Use native macOS notifications |

| Linux | — | ❌ Not planned | Use DBus directly |

**Windows-only by design** — We focus on maximum performance on the most common platform.

---

## Architecture

```

fastnotifications (Java API)

    ↓ JNI

native/FastNotification.dll (C++/WinRT)

    ↓ Windows Runtime

Windows.UI.Notifications (WinRT)

    ↓

Windows 11 Notification Center

```

**Key Technologies:**

- **JNI** — Java-to-native bridge

- **WinRT** — Windows Runtime API for Toasts

- **FastCore** — Native library loading (optional dependency)

---

## Project Structure

```

FastNotification/

├── native/

│   ├── FastNotification.cpp         # WinRT implementation (Level 2+)

│   ├── FastNotification_COM.cpp     # COM implementation (Level 1)

│   ├── FastNotification.h           # C++ header

│   ├── FastNotification.def         # JNI exports (REQUIRED!)

│   └── FastNotification.dll         # Built native library

├── src/main/java/fastnotifications/

│   ├── FastNotifications.java       # Main API

│   ├── ProgressNotification.java    # Progress toasts

│   ├── Demo.java                    # Example usage

│   └── integrations/

│       └── FastRobotDebug.java      # FastRobot integration

├── installer/

│   ├── WINDOWS_NOTIFICATION_GUIDE.md  # Windows architecture guide

│   ├── sparse-manifest.xml            # Sparse package template

│   ├── create-package.ps1             # Package builder script

│   ├── register-sparse.ps1            # Registration script

│   ├── register-app.reg               # Registry entries

│   └── install.ps1                    # Setup automation

├── compile.bat                      # Native build script

├── GETTING_STARTED.md               # Quick start guide

├── REACTION.md                      # Developer notes

├── pom.xml                          # Maven config

└── README.md                        # This file

```

---

## Documentation

| Document | Purpose |

|----------|---------|

| [`GETTING_STARTED.md`](GETTING_STARTED.md) | Quick setup guide with 3 integration levels |

| [`installer/WINDOWS_NOTIFICATION_GUIDE.md`](installer/WINDOWS_NOTIFICATION_GUIDE.md) | Windows notification architecture & decision guide |

**Quick Navigation:**

- Just want to test? → [Level 1 in GETTING_STARTED.md](GETTING_STARTED.md#level-1--quick-test-5-min)

- Building for production? → [Level 2 in GETTING_STARTED.md](GETTING_STARTED.md#level-2--production-setup-2-hours)

- Understanding Windows quirks? → [WINDOWS_NOTIFICATION_GUIDE.md](installer/WINDOWS_NOTIFICATION_GUIDE.md)

---

## License

MIT License — See [LICENSE](LICENSE) for details.

---

**FastNotifications** — *Part of the FastJava Ecosystem*  

- [FastCore](https://github.com/andrestubbe/FastCore) — JNI loader  

- [FastRobot](https://github.com/andrestubbe/FastRobot) — Ultra-fast automation  

- More at [github.com/andrestubbe](https://github.com/andrestubbe)

---

## Related Projects

- [FastRobot](https://github.com/andrestubbe/FastRobot) — Ultra-fast screen capture & automation

- [FastTheme](https://github.com/andrestubbe/FastTheme) — OS-aware theme detection

- [FastHotkey](https://github.com/andrestubbe/FastHotkey) — Global system hotkeys

- [FastClipboard](https://github.com/andrestubbe/FastClipboard) — Native clipboard access

---

## Keywords

**SEO Tags:** java notifications, windows toast java, java system tray alternative, native notifications java, winrt toast java, jni notifications, java desktop notifications, java notification library, java windows 11 toast, java winrt notifications
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