Configure Neomutt
Email is inherently interruptive. The question is: how does email recede into communication rather than becoming its own activity?
Neomutt answers this by putting email in the terminal, with vim keybindings, and minimal ceremony.
Why Terminal Email?
Most email clients are designed to maximize engagement. Neomutt is designed to minimize time-in-app:
- Keyboard-driven: No mouse required
- Vim keybindings: Same grammar as your editor
- Plain text first: Rich content on demand
- Fast search: Notmuch/mu integration
- No distractions: No avatars, no animations, no engagement tricks
Email as utility, not destination.
The Workflow
Terminal email changes how you work:
- Batch processing: Check email at defined times, not continuously
- Quick triage: j/k to navigate, d to delete, e to archive
- Reply inline: Quote and respond efficiently
- Exit fast: Process inbox, then leave
The goal: inbox zero in minutes, not hours.
Installation via Claude Code
Neomutt installation requires:
- Neomutt itself
- Google App Password (for Gmail/Google Workspace)
- Configuration files with Canon colors and keybindings
Claude Code will walk you through all of this.
Start Claude Code:
claude
Then use the praxis prompt for guided installation.
Key Keybindings
After configuration, you'll have vim-native email:
Navigation
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
j / k |
Next / previous message |
gg / G |
First / last message |
Ctrl+d / Ctrl+u |
Half-page down / up |
/ |
Search |
Actions
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
Enter |
Open message |
r |
Reply |
f |
Forward |
d |
Delete |
e |
Archive |
s |
Save to folder |
Go-to (g prefix)
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
gi |
Go to Inbox |
gs |
Go to Sent |
gd |
Go to Drafts |
ga |
Go to Archive |
gt |
Go to Trash |
Filtering
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
lu |
Limit to unread |
lf |
Limit to flagged |
la |
Show all |
Account Configuration
Neomutt supports multiple accounts. Switch between them with function keys:
| Key | Account |
|---|---|
F1 |
Primary account |
F2 |
Secondary account |
F3 |
Tertiary account |
Google App Passwords
Gmail/Google Workspace requires App Passwords (not your regular password):
- Go to myaccount.google.com/apppasswords
- Generate a new app password for "Mail"
- Save it securely (you'll enter it during configuration)
Claude Code will guide you through storing this safely.
Philosophy Note
Email in the terminal is a statement: you control your attention. The inbox doesn't summon you; you visit it when ready.
This is Gelassenheit applied to communication. Full engagement when engaging. Complete freedom when not.
The Bootstrap is Complete
With Neomutt configured, you have:
- WezTerm: The foundation
- Claude Code: The partner
- WezTerm Config: The aesthetic
- Beads: The memory
- Neomutt: The communication
Your environment is ready. The tools recede. Only the work remains.
Next Step
Continue to the Foundations path to learn the Subtractive Triad—the philosophical core of everything you'll build.
See Also
- Neomutt Patterns — Account setup, keybinding modules, and color scheme reference
- Dotfiles Conventions — Terminal tooling philosophy and installation patterns
Complete the praxis exercise to configure Neomutt with Canon colors.