feat: replace aw-notify (Python) with aw-notify-rs (Rust)

[TimeToBuildBob]

Summary

Replaces the aw-notify Python submodule (ErikBjare/aw-notify) with aw-notify-rs (0xbrayo/aw-notify-rs), a Rust reimplementation that provides identical notification behavior with better performance and native compilation.

Requested by @0xbrayo.

Changes

• Remove aw-notify submodule (ErikBjare/aw-notify, Python/poetry-based)
• Add aw-notify-rs submodule (0xbrayo/aw-notify-rs, Rust/cargo-based)
• Update Makefile: replace aw-notify with aw-notify-rs in SUBMODULES
• Update CI: update comments to reference aw-notify-rs in both build.yml and build-tauri.yml
• Update CI cache: add aw-notify-rs/target to the cargo build cache in both workflows

Build Process Differences

	aw-notify (Python)	aw-notify-rs (Rust)
Build tool	poetry install + pyinstaller	cargo build --release
Runtime	Python 3.x required	Native binary, no runtime needed
Makefile targets	build, package, clean	build, package, clean (compatible ✅)
Cache	pip/wheel cache	cargo target cache
Binary	dist/aw-notify/ (PyInstaller bundle)	dist/aw-notify (single native binary)

The aw-notify-rs Makefile already provides compatible build, package, and clean targets, so the activitywatch build system integrates without changes to the main build logic.

Testing

The CI will validate the Rust build. The aw-notify-rs binary:

• Provides the same time summary, threshold alerts, server monitoring, and new-day greeting features
• Works cross-platform (Linux, macOS, Windows)
• Connects to ActivityWatch server on localhost:5600 by default

---

Important

Replace Python aw-notify with Rust aw-notify-rs for improved performance and native compilation.

• Submodule Changes:
  • Remove aw-notify submodule.
  • Add aw-notify-rs submodule.
• Makefile:
  • Replace aw-notify with aw-notify-rs in SUBMODULES.
• CI Updates:
  • Update build.yml and build-tauri.yml to reference aw-notify-rs.
  • Add aw-notify-rs/target to cache paths in both workflows.

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[ellipsis-dev]

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[greptile-apps]

Greptile Summary

Replaced Python-based aw-notify with Rust-based aw-notify-rs for better performance and native compilation.

Key Changes:

• Swapped submodule from ErikBjare/aw-notify (Python) to 0xbrayo/aw-notify-rs (Rust)
• Updated Makefile to reference aw-notify-rs in the extras build list
• Added aw-notify-rs/target to CI cargo cache paths in both build workflows
• Updated comments in both CI workflows to reference the new module name

Integration Notes:

• The change assumes aw-notify-rs provides compatible Makefile targets (build, package, clean)
• The new Rust binary will be built with cargo build --release instead of PyInstaller
• CI caching properly includes the new Rust build artifacts

Confidence Score: 4/5

• Safe to merge with minor verification recommended
• The changes are straightforward and consistent across all files. The submodule swap is clean with no orphaned references. However, the aw-notify-rs repository and its Makefile targets should be verified to ensure they provide the expected interface (build, package, clean targets) as stated in the PR description
• No files require special attention - all changes are clean substitutions

Important Files Changed

Filename	Overview
.gitmodules	Removed Python aw-notify submodule and added Rust aw-notify-rs submodule
Makefile	Updated SUBMODULES list to use aw-notify-rs instead of aw-notify
.github/workflows/build.yml	Updated comment and added aw-notify-rs/target to cargo cache paths
.github/workflows/build-tauri.yml	Updated comment and added aw-notify-rs/target to cargo cache paths

_{Last reviewed commit: 732ad11}

[greptile-apps]

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[0xbrayo]

This is superseded by #1211, feel free to add any changes there. @TimeToBuildBob

[0xbrayo]

Seems to failing due to notarization, either could work!

[TimeToBuildBob]

Closing in favor of #1211 — 0xbrayo's version supersedes this one. Will contribute any remaining changes there if needed.