agent-mail-cli 0.1.4

Self-describing local inbox for coding agents

Agent Mail CLI

A self-describing local inbox for coding agents.

npx -y agent-mail-cli describe

That command is the product wedge: an agent can run it, read the JSON schema, and learn how to send, read, acknowledge, and inspect messages without MCP setup, a daemon, or separate documentation.

Status

This repository is the open-source extraction of a working internal tool. src/agent_mail/cli.py is the Python implementation and source of truth for behavior. Spec 001 is the behavioral specification. Spec 002 covers Python packaging, GitHub Release binaries, and WinGet. Spec 003 covers npm and npx.

Why

Multi-agent coding workflows need coordination. Heavy systems already exist for that: MCP servers, agent frameworks, workspace managers, and network protocols.

Agent Mail CLI is aimed at the simpler moment:

I am already inside Claude Code or Codex. I need this agent to send a handoff to that agent. I want one command that teaches both sides the mailbox.

Intended Usage

The primary experience is one command:

Sender:

npx -y agent-mail-cli describe
npx -y agent-mail-cli send --from second-brain:main --to ccburn:worker --subject "Review spec" --body "Please read the referenced spec and report risks."

Recipient:

npx -y agent-mail-cli describe
npx -y agent-mail-cli read ccburn:worker

Python users can install the package:

pipx install agent-mail-cli
agent-mail describe

For one-shot Python execution:

pipx run --spec agent-mail-cli agent-mail describe

From source:

python -m agent_mail describe

Design Goals

• Runtime schema introspection through describe
• JSON output by default
• JSON errors on stderr
• Local durable mailbox state
• No registration
• No daemon
• No MCP server required for v1
• Stable storage outside npm cache (post-packaging)
• One-command install for users without the source script

Repository Structure

.
├── AGENTS.md
├── CHANGELOG.md
├── CLAUDE.md
├── LICENSE
├── PROJECT_UNDERSTANDING.md
├── README.md
├── docs/
│   └── landscape.md
├── npm/
│   ├── bin/
│   │   └── agent-mail.js
│   ├── scripts/
│   │   └── postinstall.js
│   ├── LICENSE
│   ├── README.md
│   └── package.json
├── specs/
│   ├── 001-agent-mail-cli.md
│   ├── 002-packaging.md
│   └── 003-npm-distribution.md
└── src/
    └── agent_mail/
        ├── __init__.py
        ├── __main__.py
        └── cli.py

Specs

• specs/001-agent-mail-cli.md — behavioral specification. Status: pending review.
• specs/002-packaging.md — PyPI, GitHub Release binaries, and WinGet packaging.
• specs/003-npm-distribution.md — npm wrapper and npx distribution.

Naming

• Product: Agent Mail CLI
• Repo: agent-mail-cli
• Target npm package / command: agent-mail
• Python distribution: agent-mail-cli
• Python import package: agent_mail
• Command: agent-mail

License

MIT