# Himalaya

> CLI to manage emails via IMAP/SMTP. Use `himalaya` to list, read, write, reply, forward, search, and organize emails from the terminal. Supports multiple accounts and message composition with MML (MIME Meta Language).

- Skill: `suitedaces/himalaya` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add suitedaces/himalaya`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/suitedaces/himalaya/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: suitedaces (https://skillmd.com/u/suitedaces)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/suitedaces/himalaya

---


# Himalaya Email CLI

Himalaya is a CLI email client that lets you manage emails from the terminal using IMAP, SMTP, Notmuch, or Sendmail backends.

## References

- [references/configuration.md](references/configuration.md) — config file setup, IMAP/SMTP authentication
- [references/message-composition.md](references/message-composition.md) — MML syntax for composing emails (HTML, attachments, inline images)

## Prerequisites

1. Himalaya CLI installed (`himalaya --version` to verify)
2. A configuration file at `~/.config/himalaya/config.toml`
3. IMAP/SMTP credentials configured (password stored securely)

## Configuration Setup

Run the interactive wizard to set up an account:

```bash
himalaya account configure
```

Or create `~/.config/himalaya/config.toml` manually — see [references/configuration.md](references/configuration.md).

## Common Operations

### List Folders

```bash
himalaya folder list
```

### List Emails

List emails in INBOX (default):

```bash
himalaya envelope list
```

List emails in a specific folder:

```bash
himalaya envelope list --folder "Sent"
```

List with pagination:

```bash
himalaya envelope list --page 1 --page-size 20
```

### Search Emails

```bash
himalaya envelope list from john@example.com subject meeting
```

### Read an Email

Read email by ID (shows plain text):

```bash
himalaya message read 42
```

Export raw MIME:

```bash
himalaya message export 42 --full
```

### Reply to an Email

Interactive reply (opens $EDITOR):

```bash
himalaya message reply 42
```

Reply-all:

```bash
himalaya message reply 42 --all
```

### Forward an Email

```bash
himalaya message forward 42
```

### Write a New Email

Interactive compose (opens $EDITOR):

```bash
himalaya message write
```

Send directly using template:

```bash
cat << 'EOF' | himalaya template send
From: you@example.com
To: recipient@example.com
Subject: Test Message

Hello from Himalaya!
EOF
```

Or with headers flag:

```bash
himalaya message write -H "To:recipient@example.com" -H "Subject:Test" "Message body here"
```

### Send HTML Email

Use MML `<#part>` tags for HTML content (see [references/message-composition.md](references/message-composition.md) for full syntax):

```bash
cat << 'EOF' | himalaya template send
From: you@example.com
To: recipient@example.com
Subject: HTML Report

<#part type=text/html>
<h1>Monthly Report</h1>
<p>Here are the <strong>key metrics</strong> for this month.</p>
<ul>
  <li>Revenue: $50,000</li>
  <li>Users: 1,200</li>
</ul>
<#/part>
EOF
```

### Send Email with Text + HTML + Attachment

```bash
cat << 'EOF' | himalaya template send
From: you@example.com
To: recipient@example.com
Subject: Report with attachment

<#multipart type=mixed>
<#multipart type=alternative>
Please find the report attached.

<#part type=text/html>
<p>Please find the report attached.</p>
<#/part>
<#/multipart>
<#part filename=~/reports/q4-2024.pdf description="Q4 2024 Report"><#/part>
<#/multipart>
EOF
```

### Move/Copy Emails

Move to folder:

```bash
himalaya message move 42 "Archive"
```

Copy to folder:

```bash
himalaya message copy 42 "Important"
```

### Delete an Email

```bash
himalaya message delete 42
```

### Manage Flags

Add flag:

```bash
himalaya flag add 42 --flag seen
```

Remove flag:

```bash
himalaya flag remove 42 --flag seen
```

### Multiple Accounts

List accounts:

```bash
himalaya account list
```

Use a specific account:

```bash
himalaya --account work envelope list
```

### Attachments

Save attachments from a message:

```bash
himalaya attachment download 42
```

Save to specific directory:

```bash
himalaya attachment download 42 --dir ~/Downloads
```

## Output Formats

Most commands support `--output` for structured output:

```bash
himalaya envelope list --output json
himalaya envelope list --output plain
```

## Debugging

Enable debug logging:

```bash
RUST_LOG=debug himalaya envelope list
```

Full trace with backtrace:

```bash
RUST_LOG=trace RUST_BACKTRACE=1 himalaya envelope list
```

## Tips

- Use `himalaya --help` or `himalaya <command> --help` for detailed usage.
- Message IDs are relative to the current folder; re-list after folder changes.
- For composing rich emails with attachments and HTML, use MML syntax — see [references/message-composition.md](references/message-composition.md).
- Store passwords securely using `pass`, system keyring, or a command that outputs the password.