---
name: agent-mail-dfe05f5bf53a
description: Coordinate with other AI agents via project-local Maildir messaging. Use when operating in tandem mode with Claude, Gemini, or other agents. Enables claiming tasks, reporting completion, handling blocks, and synchronizing work across terminals.
---

# Agent Mail

Project-local messaging system for multi-agent coordination. Email semantics for AI agents working together.

## When to Use

Invoke when:
- Operating in **tandem mode** with other AI agents (Claude + Gemini, multiple Claudes)
- Starting a session and need to check for messages from partners
- Claiming a task and need to notify other agents
- Completing work and need to report handoff
- Blocked and need to notify partners urgently
- Need to coordinate or synchronize work across terminals

## Pre-requisites

**Check if agent-mail is initialized:**
```bash
ls .agent-mail/  # Should exist in project root
```

**If not initialized:**
```bash
npx tsx ~/Projects/leegonzales/agent-mail/src/mail.ts init
```

## Core Rituals (MANDATORY)

### 1. Session Start

**Before ANY work**, join and check inbox:

```bash
agent-mail join claude
agent-mail check claude
```

If unread messages exist:
```bash
agent-mail read claude
```

Process all messages before proceeding.

### 2. Before Claiming Work

Notify partners before starting any task:

```bash
agent-mail broadcast claude "Claiming Task" "Claiming IE-XX. Starting now."
```

### 3. After Completing Work

Report completion immediately:

```bash
agent-mail broadcast claude "Task Complete" "IE-XX complete. Output at: path/to/result"
```

### 4. When Blocked

Notify with HIGH priority:

```bash
agent-mail send claude gemini "BLOCKED" "IE-XX blocked: reason" --priority high
```

### 5. Periodic Check-in

For long tasks (>5 minutes):

```bash
agent-mail broadcast claude "Status Update" "Still on IE-XX. 60% complete."
```

## Message Types

| Subject | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| `Claiming Task` | Announcing you're taking a task |
| `Task Complete` | Work finished, ready for handoff |
| `BLOCKED` | Cannot proceed, need help |
| `Status Update` | Progress on long task |
| `Question` | Need clarification |
| `Answer` | Responding to question |
| `Handoff` | Explicitly passing work |
| `Sync Request` | Asking for partner status |

## Quick Reference

```bash
# Project
agent-mail init                    # Initialize in current project
agent-mail join claude             # Register as agent
agent-mail who                     # See active agents
agent-mail info                    # Project info

# Messaging
agent-mail check claude            # Peek inbox (no mark)
agent-mail read claude             # Read + mark as read
agent-mail send claude gemini "Subject" "Body"
agent-mail broadcast claude "Subject" "Body"
agent-mail reply claude <id> "Body"
agent-mail status                  # All inboxes
agent-mail history claude 10       # Message history
```

## Integration with Beads

When using beads task tracking:

1. **Claim in beads first**, then notify:
   ```bash
   bd update IE-XX --status in_progress --assignee Claude
   agent-mail broadcast claude "Claiming Task" "Claimed IE-XX in beads"
   ```

2. **Close in beads**, then notify:
   ```bash
   bd close IE-XX "Completed"
   agent-mail broadcast claude "Task Complete" "IE-XX closed"
   ```

## Examples

See `references/examples.md` for full conversation examples.


---
Source attribution: David-Li0406
Original project: https://github.com/David-Li0406/meta-skill-evloving/blob/ca3a335628981df10c36e00cb9850df2c247ab9a/skill-flow/data/skills-refined-36k/skillsmp/agent-mail-1/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2025 Lee Gonzales

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Mega AI Hub resource metadata

Creator / publisher: David-Li0406
Original project: https://github.com/David-Li0406/meta-skill-evloving/blob/ca3a335628981df10c36e00cb9850df2c247ab9a/skill-flow/data/skills-refined-36k/skillsmp/agent-mail-1/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Development & Engineering, Product Management, Project & Program Management
Roles: ML / AI Engineer, Product Manager, Project Manager
Specialties: Specialty not specified
Tools: Maildir, Beads
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: abaee019728aea1c2aac41a3eced495e4fc50d3a7f193cebba2f54558bbfad65