Email Manager (IMAP/SMTP)

# Email Manager (IMAP/SMTP)


## Table of Contents

- [When to Use](#when-to-use)
- [Prerequisites](#prerequisites)
- [Methodology Overview](#methodology-overview)
- [Step 1: Configure Connection](#step-1:-configure-connection)
- [Step 2: Scan and Triage](#step-2:-scan-and-triage)
- [Step 3: Read and Extract](#step-3:-read-and-extract)
- [Step 4: Respond and Compose](#step-4:-respond-and-compose)
- [Step 5: Organize and Archive](#step-5:-organize-and-archive)
- [Step 6: Nonsense Check](#step-6:-nonsense-check)
- [Step 7: Validate Before Shipping](#step-7:-validate-before-shipping)
- [Pitfalls](#pitfalls)
- [Cross-Skill Hints](#cross-skill-hints)

## When to Use
You need to manage email programmatically - read, triage, send, or automate email tasks. The user wants to process inbox messages, send emails with attachments, handle mailing lists, or set up email-based workflows.

## Prerequisites
- Tool for CLI email: `himalaya` (recommended), `mutt`, or `curl` with IMAP/SMTP support
- SMTP/IMAP server credentials (host, port, username, password/app-password)
- For Gmail: an App Password (2FA must be enabled first)

## Methodology Overview
1. Configure Connection - Set up IMAP/SMTP access with correct security (TLS/STARTTLS)
2. Scan and Triage - List, filter, and prioritize inbox messages
3. Read and Extract - Fetch messages with attachments, parse MIME content
4. Respond and Compose - Write and send replies or new messages
5. Organize and Archive - Move, flag, delete, or archive processed messages
6. Nonsense Check - Verify sent mail actually arrived, check threading, check attachments
7. Validate Before Shipping

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## Step 1: Configure Connection

### IMAP (Reading)
```bash
# himalaya configuration (~/.config/himalaya/config.toml)
[accounts.myaccount]
default = true
email = "[email protected]"
imap_host = "imap.example.com"
imap_port = 993
imap_login = "[email protected]"
imap_pass_cmd = "pass show email/myaccount"
smtp_host = "smtp.example.com"