gistfile1.sh

preexec () {
    # Note the date when the command started, in unix time.
    CMD_START_DATE=$(date +%s)
    # Store the command that we're running.
    CMD_NAME=$1
}
precmd () {
    # Proceed only if we've ran a command in the current shell.
    if ! [[ -z $CMD_START_DATE ]]; then
        # Note current date in unix time
        CMD_END_DATE=$(date +%s)
        # Store the difference between the last command start date vs. current date.
        CMD_ELAPSED_TIME=$(($CMD_END_DATE - $CMD_START_DATE))
        # Store an arbitrary threshold, in seconds.
        CMD_NOTIFY_THRESHOLD=30

        if [[ $CMD_ELAPSED_TIME -gt $CMD_NOTIFY_THRESHOLD ]]; then
            # play notification if the elapsed time (in seconds) is greater than threshold
            afplay ~/.dotfiles/media/program-complete.wav -v 2
            # Send a notification
            growlnotify -t "Program complete" -m "\"$CMD_NAME\" finished in $CMD_ELAPSED_TIME seconds."
        fi
    fi
}

Generate an alert when long running tasks have finished executing in your terminal. This example uses a "program complete" sound bite from the LCARS computer on Star Trek TNG. It also uses Growlnotify to set a desktop notification. Props to Grrrlpower for the original version of this script.

Installation

• Place these functions in your .zshrc file
• Download the audio file (and make sure the path to it is correct on line 19)
• Install Growlnotify or update line 21 to use your notification program of choice