How to create a terminal email client using Textual and Python
Blog post from Nylas
The blog post explores the creation of a terminal-based email client using Python and the Textual framework, which enhances the visual interface of terminal applications beyond simple text on a black screen. It outlines the process of setting up the environment with the Nylas Python SDK, installing necessary packages like Textual and BeautifulSoup, and building the client with features such as reading, composing, replying, and deleting emails. The application structure is explained, detailing the main, reply, and compose screens, each with specific bindings for commands like refresh, send, delete, and cancel. The email client retrieves the first five emails from the inbox, displays them in a structured data table, and allows interaction via keyboard shortcuts. The post also highlights the use of Python libraries such as Rich for styling text and BeautifulSoup for parsing HTML content, ensuring the client is functional and user-friendly. Finally, it encourages further exploration of email functionalities through the provided documentation and a live stream coding session.