Posted 28.04.2006 | Updated 23.05.2006 | Contributed by Andy Mallett
Reading and managing email using the standard command line method can be a bit of a pain in the arse at times. The most popular utility for managing mail is called Pine, which offers a menu driven system especially designed for the keyboard-challenged.
From the developer's website.. PineŽ - a Program for Internet News & Email - is a tool for reading, sending, and managing electronic messages.
Pine was developed by Computing & Communications at the University of Washington. Originally designed for inexperienced email users, Pine has evolved to support many advanced features and options.
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Pine is available for Unix as well as for personal computers running a Microsoft operating system (PC-Pine).
Installation
- Insert the FreeBSD installation disk #1
- Run the sysinstall command
- configure | packages | cd/dvd | mail
- spacebar to select pine (in this case, pine-4.58)
- tab to OK | tab to install | OK
- After successful completion, Exit | Exit install
The handy thing about using the sysinstaller here is that it'll take care of all the dependencies too, like SSL.
Usage
Back at the command prompt, simply type pine to get it running. An initial one-off greeting indicates that pine is running. Quit the greeting and behold the magnificence of the pine menu system..
PINE 4.58 MAIN MENU Folder: INBOX 130 Messages
? HELP - Get help using Pine
C COMPOSE MESSAGE - Compose and send a message
I MESSAGE INDEX - View messages in current folder
L FOLDER LIST - Select a folder to view
A ADDRESS BOOK - Update address book
S SETUP - Configure Pine Options
Q QUIT - Leave the Pine program
Copyright 1989-2003. PINE is a trademark of the University of Washington.
? Help P PrevCmd R RelNotes
O OTHER CMDS > [Help] N NextCmd K KBLock
Commands can be run either through highlighting the relevant field or typing the relevant command letter.
- i - brings up the message inbox
- m - takes you back to the main menu from anywhere
- enter - reads the highlighted message
- d - deletes the highlighted message
- c - compose (create) a new message
- n - next message
- p - previous message
- r - reply to the current message
Pine offers more and easier functionality than the standard command line mail and good online help is available by pressing the ? key. Very good.
References
http://www.washington.edu/pine/user-guide/
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