Install + Config mutt-sidebar

Hello everyone !

Lets make mutt more intersting by adding sidebar in mutt. Install it

For ubuntu
$ sudo apt-get install mutt-patched
For Arch
$ sudo pacman -S package-query yaourt
$ sudo yaourt -S mutt-sidebar

Add following to your .muttrc file and make changes accordingly.

#change width accordingly
set sidebar_width=30

#Visible at first, then change its value to yes
set sidebar_visible=no

set sidebar_delim='|'
set sidebar_sort=yes
mailboxes =inbox =ml
mailboxes =inbox =ml
bind index CP sidebar-prev
bind index CN sidebar-next
bind index CO sidebar-open
bind pager CP sidebar-prev
bind pager CN sidebar-next
bind pager CO sidebar-open
macro index b 'toggle sidebar_visible'
macro pager b 'toggle sidebar_visible'
bind index B bounce-message

Shortcuts to use

CP = Previous folder in sidebar
CN = Next folder in sidebar
CO = Open Selected folder in sidebar
b = toggle sidebar

If you want to change shortcuts, then change the values in .muttrc file accordingly.
Enjoy your new mutt sidebar. 😛

xterm : enable 256 color support on : xterm-256color

You might need 256 bit color support in your various terminal applications like vim, mutt, mplayer, htop and others. Below are the instructions to enable 256 bit color support.

Pretty quick, issue command in your terminal

$ export TERM=xterm-256color

To make it permanant, add the same to your .bashrc or .zshrc file, according to the shell you’re using.
Test the output with

(x=`tput op` y=`printf %76s`;for i in {0..256};do o=00$i;echo -e ${o:${#o}-3:3} `tput setaf $i;tput setab $i`${y// /=}$x;done)

That’s it, enjoy colors !

MUTT : Background sending with mSMTP

I am regular mutt user. Here is a good fix to remove waiting while the mutt interacts with the SMTP server to send an email. Previously I used a local mail server, now I am going to use mSMTP which is a SMTP Client just like mutt. We will let the mSMTP do the sending part in the background and will keep reading mails in the mutt, Sounds cool, eh ?

At First, Do Install and Configure mSMTP, don’t worry its a quick one.

Open your .muttrc file, remove smtp_url variable, or comment it.

#set smtp_url = "smtp://vigas@csiom.com@csiom.com"

Append following, change things accordingly.

#sets path to msmtp command
set sendmail="/usr/bin/msmtp"
set envelope_from=yes

#Tells mSMTP to use which block of address to send the email
macro generic "1" ":set from=email@gmail.com"

#Background sending, Hurray !
set sendmail_wait=-1

That’s it guys !

Feel free to share problems, if any. I’ll be back after some sleep.