pine

pine [options] [address ...]

-f
    Opens the specified folder upon startup.

-p
    Uses the pico text editor for composing messages (default).

-attach
    Attaches the specified file to the composed message.

-d
    Enables debugging output at the specified level.

-n
    Specifies a number for some internal purposes

-h
    Displays help information.

Pine, short for Program for Internet News & Email, is a text-based email client developed at the University of Washington. It was designed to be easy to use, particularly for novice computer users.

Pine provides a simple interface for reading, composing, sending, and managing email messages. It supports standard email protocols like SMTP, IMAP, and POP3.

While not as feature-rich or customizable as some other email clients, Pine's simplicity and speed made it a popular choice for many years, especially on Unix-like systems. Its successor is Alpine, which offers ongoing maintenance and support.

Pine is no longer actively developed. Alpine is its replacement, and users are encouraged to migrate to Alpine for ongoing support and security updates. Pine might have limited support for modern email standards.

Pine presents a menu-driven interface. Basic commands are always visible at the bottom of the screen, simplifying navigation and reducing the learning curve.

Pine's configuration is typically managed through a file called `.pinerc` in the user's home directory. This file allows customization of various settings, such as folder locations, signature files, and editor preferences.

Pine was initially released in 1992 by the University of Washington. It gained popularity due to its ease of use and its availability on Unix-like systems.

Pine was widely used in academic environments and by individuals who preferred a text-based email client. The development of Pine ceased, and was replaced by the project 'Alpine' to ensure ongoing maintenance.

alpine(1), pico(1)