Does the Mail app need to be running for this skill to work?

While the skill can launch the Mail app using 'open -g -a Mail' if it isn't running, it is generally more efficient to have the application active during automation.

What framework does this skill use for automation?

This skill utilizes Apple's JavaScript for Automation (JXA) framework via the osascript command to control the Mail application.

Can I use standard JavaScript array methods like .map() or .filter()?

Native JXA arrays returned from Mail sometimes lack these methods. The skill suggests using Array.from() or standard for-loops to safely iterate through messages.

Does deleting a message move it to the Archive?

No, in Apple Mail, the delete() function moves messages to the Trash. This skill provides specific patterns to locate the correct Archive mailbox for each account to ensure proper archiving.

Apple Mail Automation

Name: Apple Mail Automation
Author: bendrucker

bybendrucker

•

Productivity & Workflow

Automates Apple Mail management tasks using JavaScript for Automation (JXA) to read, process, and archive messages.

The Apple Mail skill empowers Claude to interact directly with the native macOS Mail application via JXA (JavaScript for Automation). It provides a structured way to read inbox messages, extract key metadata like senders and subjects, and implement sophisticated archiving workflows that navigate account-specific mailbox structures. This is particularly useful for developers looking to automate their inbox management or build custom workflows that bridge email communication with their development environment.

Key Features

01Smart archiving logic that identifies account-specific archive mailboxes

027 GitHub stars

03Native JXA integration for seamless macOS automation

04Batch processing patterns for efficient email management

05Optimized handling of JXA-specific array and selector limitations

06Programmatic access to Apple Mail inbox and message properties

Use Cases

01Creating custom filters and notification scripts via Claude

02Automating Inbox Zero by batch-archiving processed messages

03Programmatically extracting data from incoming emails for dev tasks

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add bendrucker/claude mail

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill