pine

pine [options] [address]
pine -f folder
pine -a address

-f <folder>
    Specifies a mail folder to open immediately upon starting pine.

-a <address>
    Starts pine in compose mode, pre-addressing a new message to the specified email address.

-i
    Forces pine to start in the main folder view, regardless of other command-line options.

-k
    Activates Kiosk mode, which restricts certain user actions for public terminal use.

-P <file>
    Specifies an alternative configuration file to load instead of the default .pinerc.

-A <account>
    Specifies which configured email account to use for the session, if multiple are set up.

-D
    Enables debugging output for troubleshooting purposes, typically logging to stderr.

-e
    Forces pine to use the external editor for message composition, even if an internal composer is configured.

-v
    Displays the current version information of pine and then exits.

-h
    Shows a summary of command-line options and then exits.

pine (Program for Internet News and Email) is a full-screen, text-based email and news client designed for ease of use. Developed at the University of Washington, it gained significant popularity in the 1990s as a user-friendly alternative to more complex mail programs. pine provides a simple, menu-driven interface, making it accessible even for novice users navigating email via a terminal. Key features include composing, reading, replying to, and forwarding email messages, along with robust address book management, folder organization, and support for MIME attachments. Its intuitive navigation, often relying on simple commands and context-sensitive help, contributed to its widespread adoption, especially in educational and Unix environments. While largely superseded by its open-source successor, alpine, and graphical email clients, pine remains a notable part of Linux and Unix history for its significant contribution to accessible terminal-based communication.

While historically significant, pine is largely unmaintained and has been superseded by its open-source successor, alpine. Using pine on modern systems might pose compatibility issues or security risks due to lack of updates for new protocols or vulnerabilities. It may also require manual compilation or be unavailable in standard package repositories for many contemporary Linux distributions.

pine operates with a clear, menu-driven interface at the bottom of the screen, providing context-sensitive options and keybindings. Navigation is typically performed using arrow keys, page up/down, and common Emacs-like key combinations, making it relatively easy to learn for new users.

User preferences and account settings in pine are managed through the .pinerc file, usually located in the user's home directory. This file allows for extensive customization of behavior, display, and server configurations, including server details, display options, and signature settings.

pine was developed by the University of Washington in the early 1990s, with its first public release around 1992. It quickly gained traction due to its innovative, user-friendly interface in a landscape dominated by more complex command-line mail readers like elm and mailx. Its development was largely driven by the need for an intuitive email client for university students and staff. Over time, licensing restrictions on pine's components led to the creation of alpine, an open-source version, ensuring its legacy and continued development under a free software license. The last official release of pine was version 4.64 in 2005.

alpine(1), mail(1), mutt(1), elm(1), mailx(1)