[DevLog #02] Gmail-TUI: Replicating Gmail-Web's Navigation

Thanks to all the kind support on the previous DevLog, I am back with the latest update on my Gmail-TUI application! If you are not aware of this OpenSource project, I am developing a Terminal based UI application that aims to replicate the Gmail-Web experience in terminal, without the need of a Web-Browser:

Read DevLog #01
Contribute in Project's GitHub Repository

Replicating Gmail-Web's Navigation

While the implementation of the Inbox feature is still a work in-progress, I have implemented a better navigation system within the Gmail-TUI than it's previous version - as can be seen above.

In the earlier version, user would directly be prompted to compose a mail and send it, since that was the only feature available at that time. After the recent modifications however, a basic blueprint has been laid for how a User would be able to navigate within this application:

1. Login-Screen is now shown as the main-page
2. After a successful-login, Dashboard is displayed with possible options for Composing Mails (Implemented) and Viewing Inbox, Starred and Draft mails (WIP)
3. Upon selecting the desired option, user is led to a new page for performing option related operations
4. Exit & Back options have been provided in appropriate pages for a better user-experience

A successful login is currently being validated by sending a 'Login-alert' mail to the person trying to log in. If the email-password does not match, then the 'Login-alert' mail will not be sent to the user and they will be prompted to retry again.

As of now, only the Compose options is functional but after the implementation of the IMAP-Protocol, the remaining options will be modified to perform related operations.

Plans For Now

Okay so to recap, I have been able to since the first DevLog, the following functionalities have now been added into the Gmail-TUI:

• ✅ A login page for entering email-ID and password
• ✅ Composing and sending mails
• [WIP] Listing received emails with email-IDs in the Inbox
• [WIP] Opening the content of the received mail after clicking it
• [WIP] Viewing sent email in Sent-Box
• ✅ Area to choose from the Compose, Inbox, Drafts, Sent buttons

Since networking has never really been my strongest point, I have been working on better understanding the IMAP Protocol that is to be used to display emails in User's inbox but sadly for me, I have been struggling with properly grasping the related concepts. Or rather, I feel like I am unnecessarily prolonging the implementation of the Inbox feature by wanting to learn more and more about IMAP because of just how fascinating it's history really is!

I understand how it's to be implemented in the code now but there's a part of me that wishes I would not move on until I understand each and everything about IMAP, which I realise is quite impractical. I mean, what is the point of trying to capture so much knowledge without even trying to implement it somewhere?

Therefore, I have made up my mind: I will be implementing the inbox feature using whatever knowledge that I have gained so far and ensuring that this feature is present in the next version of the Gmail-TUI.

If you liked reading this DevLog and would like to have a closer look at my development process, please consider following me on X, Reddit and GitHub!