Agent Mail lets the agent handle emails through the agently-cli command-line tool: sending, replying, forwarding, searching, reading emails, downloading attachments, and managing the inbox.
It is provided as an optional Docker Compose overlay. The default docker-compose.yml deployment is unchanged; the overlay only installs Node.js and agently-cli into the container when you choose to enable it.
1. Download the overlay
Run the following in the directory that contains docker-compose.yml:
The COMPOSE_FILE entry in .env makes every later docker compose command in this directory (including pull for upgrades) apply the overlay automatically.
2. Start the container
On the first start, Node.js and agently-cli are downloaded into ./agent-mail-data/, so later restarts, container recreation, and image upgrades do not download them again. If the download fails, CowAgent still starts normally without Agent Mail; check the [agent-mail] lines in docker compose logs and restart to retry.
If downloads are slow, change NODE_MIRROR and NPM_CONFIG_REGISTRY in docker-compose.agent-mail.yml to a closer mirror, for example https://npmmirror.com/mirrors/node and https://registry.npmmirror.com.
3. Authorize the mailbox
Open the printed link in a browser to complete authorization. The command exits automatically once authorization succeeds.
4. Install the skill
The skill teaches the agent how to use agently-cli. Send this in chat:
Or run it in the terminal:
The skill is installed into the workspace (./cow/skills). Once it is installed, just ask the agent to send or check emails.
Data persistence
./agent-mail-data/config contains your mailbox credentials. Keep it private and do not commit or share it.
