# Growl

> software; global notification system and pop-up notification implementation for the Mac OS X and Windows operating systems

**Wikidata**: [Q1346058](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1346058)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growl_(software))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/growl

## Summary
Growl is a global notification system and pop-up notification implementation designed for the Mac OS X and Windows operating systems. It is classified as free software and is developed using the Objective-C programming language. The software is distributed under BSD licenses and is distinct from the vocalization technique known as growling.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Growl is free software and notification software.
- **Function:** It serves as a global notification system and pop-up notification implementation.
- **Operating Systems:** The software runs on macOS (Mac OS X) and Windows operating systems.
- **Programming Language:** It is written in Objective-C, a high-level, object-oriented programming language.
- **License:** Growl is distributed under the BSD licenses.
- **Version:** A documented version of the software is 2.0.9.
- **Website:** The official website is located at http://growl.info.
- **Copyright Status:** The software is copyrighted.

## FAQs
### Q: What operating systems are compatible with Growl?
A: Growl is a notification system implementation for both the Mac OS X and Windows operating systems. Structured data specifically cites macOS as a primary operating environment.

### Q: Is Growl free to use?
A: Yes, Growl is classified as free software distributed under BSD licenses. This allows users to freely run, study, change, and distribute the software and its modified versions.

### Q: What programming language is Growl written in?
A: Growl is written in Objective-C, a general-purpose, high-level, object-oriented programming language.

### Q: What is the difference between Growl and Growling?
A: Growl is a software utility for notifications, whereas "Growling" refers to a vocalization technique. The two are explicitly distinct entities in knowledge bases.

## Why It Matters
Growl plays a significant role in the user experience of desktop computing, particularly within the macOS ecosystem. Before the integration of native notification centers in modern operating systems, Growl provided a standardized, global solution for third-party applications to communicate with users via pop-up notifications. This solved a fragmentation problem where different applications had varying, often intrusive, methods of alerting users. By centralizing these alerts, Growl allowed users to manage how and when they received information, reducing distractions and streamlining workflow.

As a piece of free software written in Objective-C, it served as a foundational tool for developers on Apple platforms, offering an open-source framework that predated Apple's own Notification Center. Its adoption across major operating systems like Windows and macOS highlights its utility as a cross-platform solution for notification management. While operating systems have since evolved to include built-in features similar to Growl, the software remains a notable example of independent innovation in user interface design and system utility.

## Notable For
- **Pioneering Global Notifications:** It functioned as a global notification system, a critical feature before such capabilities were standardized natively in OS updates.
- **Cross-Platform Availability:** While heavily associated with Mac OS X, it extended support to Windows, broadening its utility.
- **Open Source Development:** Released under BSD licenses, it is a prominent example of free software in the system utility space.
- **Objective-C Architecture:** Its development in Objective-C ties it directly to the Apple development ecosystem and its technical history.

## Body
### Technical Overview
Growl is a notification system software implemented using Objective-C, a general-purpose, high-level, object-oriented programming language created in 1984. The software is identified as a global notification system and pop-up notification implementation. It allows applications to display notifications to the user in a consistent manner.

### Platform Support
The software is designed to operate on Mac OS X and Windows operating systems. Specific structured data confirms it runs on macOS (formerly Mac OS X), which was inceptioned on March 24, 2001. The software's official website is hosted at http://growl.info.

### Development and Licensing
Growl is classified as free software, a classification defined by terms that allow users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it. The specific license cited for Growl is the BSD licenses.
- **Version History:** A documented version of the software is 2.0.9.
- **Open Hub:** The project is tracked on Open Hub under the ID "growl."

### Identification and Metadata
The entity is distinct from "Growling" (a low, guttural vocalization). It is categorized under the "Growl (software)" Commons category.
- **Wikidata Description:** "software; global notification system and pop-up notification implementation for the Mac OS X and Windows operating systems."
- **Freebase ID:** /m/041_ll
- **Wikipedia Presence:** The software has Wikipedia pages in multiple languages including English, German (de), Spanish (es), French (fr), Indonesian (id), Italian (it), Korean (ko), Polish (pl), and Portuguese (pt).

## References

1. [The growl Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages Page. Open Hub](https://www.openhub.net/p/growl/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013