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Sync and TUI

This page covers the common sync commands, the main TUI navigation, and the background sync behavior that runs while the TUI stays open.

Prerequisites

  • Install CRIEW and verify the environment with criew doctor.
  • Configure [imap] only if you want real IMAP INBOX sync.
  • Configure a kernel tree if you want code browsing and local patch review context.

Workflow

Check the environment

criew doctor

Sync a lore mailbox

criew sync --mailbox io-uring

Sync a real IMAP inbox

criew sync --mailbox INBOX

Use local .eml fixtures

criew sync --mailbox test --fixture-dir ./fixtures

Start the TUI

criew tui

TUI actions

For the full key list, including modal editors, Send Preview, and the inline code editor, see Keybindings.

  • : opens the command palette.
  • The header shows the active keymap scheme: default, vim, or custom.
  • A numeric prefix repeats vertical movement: count+i/k for default and custom, count+j/k for vim.
  • y and n enable or disable the selected subscription.
  • Enter opens the selected mailbox or thread and moves focus to threads or preview.
  • [ and ] expand the focused mail pane left or right.
  • { and } shrink the focused mail pane and persist the widths in ui-state.toml.
  • - and = switch to the previous or next mail while preview stays focused.
  • Tab switches between the mail page and the code browser.
  • With ui.keymap = "vim", gg jumps to the first line in the active pane, G jumps to the last line, and qq exits quickly.

Command palette

Common commands are:

  • sync
  • sync <mailbox>
  • config
  • vim
  • restart
  • quit
  • !<shell command>

Background sync

When IMAP is configured, My Inbox joins startup sync and continues periodic background sync while the TUI remains open.

Enabled mailing-list subscriptions also continue periodic background sync while the TUI remains open, so Linux lore and QEMU archive mailboxes keep pulling new mail.

Verify the result

Success means:

  • the requested mailbox sync completes without transport errors
  • thread lists populate after sync
  • the TUI can open mailboxes, threads, and preview panes without falling back to empty-state errors

See also