Fruitmail (Fast & Safe)
Fast SQLite-based search for Apple Mail.app with full body content support.
Installation
npm install -g apple-mail-search-cli
Usage
# Complex search
fruitmail search --subject "invoice" --days 30 --unread
# Search by sender
fruitmail sender "@amazon.com"
# List unread emails
fruitmail unread
# Read full email body (supports --json)
fruitmail body 94695
# Open in Mail.app
fruitmail open 94695
# Database stats
fruitmail stats
Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|
search | Complex search with filters |
sender <query> | Search by sender email |
unread | List unread emails |
body <id> | Read full email body (AppleScript) |
open <id> | Open email in Mail.app |
stats | Database statistics |
Search Options
--subject <text> Search subject lines
--days <n> Last N days
--unread Only unread emails
--limit <n> Max results (default: 20)
--json Output as JSON
--copy Copy DB before query (safest mode)
Examples
# Find bank statements from last month
fruitmail search --subject "statement" --days 30
# Get unread emails as JSON
fruitmail unread --json | jq '.[] | .subject'
# Find emails from Amazon
fruitmail sender "@amazon.com" --limit 50
Performance
| Method | Time for 130k emails |
|---|
| AppleScript (full iteration) | 8+ minutes |
| SQLite (this tool) | ~50ms |
Technical Details
- Database:
~/Library/Mail/V{9,10,11}/MailData/Envelope Index
- Query method: SQLite (read-only) + AppleScript (body content)
- Safety: Read-only mode prevents modification; optional
--copy mode available
Notes
- macOS only — queries Apple Mail.app's local database
- Read-only — can search/read but cannot compose/send
- To send emails: Use the
himalaya skill (IMAP/SMTP)
Source
https://github.com/gumadeiras/apple-mail-search-cli