# Alpine

> Menu-driven terminal email client descended from Pine, with built-in help, setup screens and native Windows builds.

Alpine is a full-screen email and news client that shows available commands at the bottom of every screen and is configured through built-in setup menus instead of a hand-written file. It reads IMAP, POP3 and NNTP, keeps local mail in mbox-style folders, sends over SMTP, and includes the Pico editor, S/MIME and XOAUTH2 for Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo. It suits users who prefer menus and on-screen command hints over memorized keybindings. The maintained version is developed by Eduardo Chappa.

- Type: Email client
- Interface: Full-screen terminal interface
- Systems: Runs on Linux, macOS, Windows and BSD, on Android through Termux.
- Language: C
- License: Apache 2.0 (Apache-2.0)
- Latest version: 2.26
- Background: Successor of Pine, continued from the University of Washington Alpine
- Maintained: yes
- Website: https://alpineapp.email/
- Source: https://repo.or.cz/alpine.git
- Documentation: https://alpineapp.email/alpine/alpine-info/

## Install

### Linux

Native.

- apt: `sudo apt install alpine`
- dnf: `sudo dnf install alpine`

### macOS

Native.

- Homebrew: `brew install alpine`

### Windows

Native. Official 64-bit and 32-bit Windows builds (PC-Alpine) are published as ZIP files.

- Official ZIP: `Download alpine-2.26.zip from https://alpineapp.email/alpine/release/`

### BSD

Native.

- FreeBSD pkg: `pkg install alpine`
- OpenBSD: `pkg_add alpine`

### Android

Through Termux.

- Termux: `pkg install alpine`

## Protocols

- IMAP: Yes
- POP3: Yes
- SMTP: Yes
- JMAP: No
- Maildir: No
- mbox: Yes
- notmuch: No

## Features

- OpenPGP: via plugin
- S/MIME: Yes
- OAuth2 sign-in: Yes
- Threads: Yes
- Search: built-in search and message selection; server-side for IMAP
- HTML mail: built-in HTML-to-text rendering
- Mouse: Yes
- Multiple accounts: Yes
- Offline use: No
- Calendar: Yes
- Contacts: built-in address book; LDAP lookup
- Vim-style keys: No
- Configuration: built-in setup screens, stored in .pinerc

## Pros

- Command list on every screen and built-in help for each option
- Official native Windows builds alongside Unix packages
- Built-in XOAUTH2 for Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo, and built-in S/MIME

## Cons

- PGP needs external display and sending filters
- No Maildir, notmuch or JMAP support
- Last stable release is 2.26; newer work is in alpha builds

## Use Alpine with Forward Email

File: `~/.pinerc`

```
# Forward Email: IMAP over SSL/TLS (993), SMTP over SSL/TLS (465)
# Set these in Setup > Config, or edit ~/.pinerc while Alpine is closed.
# Alpine has no password command; it prompts and can save passwords
# in its encrypted password file.
personal-name=Your Name
user-domain=example.com
customized-hdrs=From: Your Name <you@example.com>
inbox-path={imap.forwardemail.net:993/ssl/user=you@example.com}INBOX
folder-collections=ForwardEmail {imap.forwardemail.net:993/ssl/user=you@example.com}[]
default-fcc={imap.forwardemail.net:993/ssl/user=you@example.com}Sent Mail
postponed-folder={imap.forwardemail.net:993/ssl/user=you@example.com}Drafts
smtp-server=smtp.forwardemail.net:465/ssl/user=you@example.com
```

| Protocol | Server | Port | Security |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| IMAP | imap.forwardemail.net | 993 | SSL/TLS |
| POP3 | pop3.forwardemail.net | 995 | SSL/TLS |
| SMTP | smtp.forwardemail.net | 465 | SSL/TLS |
| SMTP | smtp.forwardemail.net | 587 | STARTTLS |

Username: your full alias address. Password: the one from Generate Password next to the alias. Folders: INBOX, Drafts, Sent Mail, Trash, Spam and Archive.

## Questions

### Does Alpine work on Windows?

Yes, it runs natively on Windows. Official 64-bit and 32-bit Windows builds (PC-Alpine) are published as ZIP files.

### Does Alpine support IMAP?

Yes, Alpine connects to IMAP servers directly.

### Is Alpine open source?

Yes, under the Apache 2.0.

### How do I use Alpine with Forward Email?

Use the config in the Forward Email section on this page, saved as ~/.pinerc, and replace the address and password with your own.

## Sources

- https://alpineapp.email/
- https://alpineapp.email/alpine/release/
- https://alpineapp.email/alpine/alpine-info/
- https://alpineapp.email/alpine/alpine-info/misc/xoauth2.html
- https://repo.or.cz/alpine.git
- https://repo.or.cz/alpine.git/blob/HEAD:/LICENSE
- https://repo.or.cz/alpine.git/blob/HEAD:/pith/pine.hlp
- https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/alpine
- https://sources.debian.org/src/alpine/
- https://packages.fedoraproject.org/pkgs/alpine/alpine/
- https://www.freshports.org/mail/alpine/
- https://github.com/openbsd/ports/tree/master/mail/alpine
- https://github.com/termux/termux-packages/tree/master/packages/alpine
- https://github.com/forwardemail/forwardemail.net/blob/master/helpers/ensure-default-mailboxes.js