EmailOS Template Command Documentation

The mailos template command manages HTML email templates for styling outgoing emails with custom designs and branding.

For Developers: This command also serves as a reference implementation for the EmailOS CLI core command patterns. See internal/core/TEMPLATE.go for both traditional and modern BaseCommand implementation examples.

Basic Usage

bash

mailos template

Opens interactive template editor to customize your email appearance.

Quick Start

View Existing Template

bash

mailos template --open-browser

Opens your current template HTML file directly in the browser for quick visual inspection.

Edit Template Interactively

bash

mailos template

Opens the full interactive template editor with design options.

Command-Line Flags

Flag	Description	Example
`--remove`	Remove existing template	`mailos template --remove`
`--open-browser`	Open template HTML file in browser	`mailos template --open-browser`

Template Features

Supported Elements

Custom colors and fonts
Logo/branding placement
Header and footer sections
Signature formatting
Button styles
Responsive design
Dark mode support

Template Variables

Templates can use placeholders:

- Email content
- Email signature
- Current date
- Sender name
- Sender email
- Profile picture

Interactive Editor

Running mailos template launches the editor with options:

1. Quick Styles

Pre-designed templates:

Professional - Clean business style
Modern - Contemporary design
Minimal - Simple and elegant
Creative - Colorful and bold
Dark - Dark theme
Custom - Build from scratch

2. Customization Options

Colors

Primary color (headers, links)
Secondary color (accents)
Background color
Text color
Border color

Typography

Font family selection
Font size adjustments
Line height settings
Heading styles

Layout

Container width
Padding/margins
Border radius
Shadow effects

Branding

Logo upload/URL
Logo position
Company name
Tagline

Template Examples

Professional Template

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <style>
    .email-container {
      max-width: 600px;
      margin: 0 auto;
      font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
      color: #333;
    }
    .header {
      background: #2c3e50;
      color: white;
      padding: 20px;
      text-align: center;
    }
    .content {
      padding: 30px;
      background: #ffffff;
    }
    .footer {
      background: #ecf0f1;
      padding: 20px;
      text-align: center;
      font-size: 12px;
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <div class="email-container">
    <div class="header">
      <h1>{{FROM_NAME}}</h1>
    </div>
    <div class="content">
      {{BODY}}
    </div>
    <div class="footer">
      {{SIGNATURE}}
    </div>
  </div>
</body>
</html>

Minimal Template

html

<div style="max-width: 500px; margin: 20px auto; font-family: Georgia, serif;">
  <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid #e0e0e0; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
    <img src="{{PROFILE_IMAGE}}" style="width: 50px; height: 50px; border-radius: 50%; vertical-align: middle;">
    <span style="margin-left: 10px; font-size: 18px;">{{FROM_NAME}}</span>
  </div>
  <div style="line-height: 1.6;">
    {{BODY}}
  </div>
  <div style="margin-top: 30px; padding-top: 20px; border-top: 1px solid #e0e0e0; font-size: 14px; color: #666;">
    {{SIGNATURE}}
  </div>
</div>

Template Management

Save Location

Templates are stored in:

Global: ~/.email/templates/default.html
Local: ./.email/templates/default.html

View Template in Browser

bash

mailos template --open-browser

Instantly opens your current template HTML file in the default browser for visual review. This is useful for:

Quick visual inspection of template design
Testing template appearance without sending emails
Debugging layout issues
Reviewing HTML structure and styling

The command automatically locates your template file and opens it using the system's default browser. If no template exists, it will show an error message.

Apply Template

Templates are automatically applied to:

Emails sent with mailos send
Unless --plain flag is used
When body contains markdown

Remove Template

bash

mailos template --remove

Reverts to plain email format.

Export Template

bash

cp ~/.email/template.html my-template.html

Import Template

bash

cp my-template.html ~/.email/template.html

Advanced Customization

CSS Framework Integration

Use popular frameworks:

html

<!-- Bootstrap -->
<link href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@5.1.3/dist/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet">

<!-- Tailwind -->
<link href="https://cdn.tailwindcss.com" rel="stylesheet">

Responsive Design

css

@media only screen and (max-width: 600px) {
  .email-container {
    width: 100% !important;
  }
  .content {
    padding: 10px !important;
  }
}

Dark Mode Support

css

@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
  .email-container {
    background: #1a1a1a;
    color: #ffffff;
  }
}

Custom Fonts

html

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Inter:wght@400;600&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">
<style>
  body {
    font-family: 'Inter', sans-serif;
  }
</style>

Profile Images

Adding Profile Image

bash

mailos configure --profile-image /path/to/image.jpg

Using in Template

html

<img src="{{PROFILE_IMAGE}}" alt="Profile" style="width: 60px; border-radius: 50%;">

Image Hosting

Options for profile images:

Base64 encoded (embedded)
URL to hosted image
Gravatar integration
Local file reference

Template Best Practices

1. Email Client Compatibility

Use inline CSS
Avoid JavaScript
Test in multiple clients
Use table layouts for complex designs

2. Accessibility

Include alt text for images
Use semantic HTML
Ensure color contrast
Test with screen readers

3. Performance

Optimize images
Minimize CSS
Avoid external dependencies
Keep file size under 100KB

4. Mobile Optimization

Single column layout
Large tap targets
Readable font sizes
Responsive images

Testing Templates

Browser Preview

bash

mailos template --open-browser

Opens template HTML file directly in browser for immediate visual inspection.

Email Preview

bash

mailos send --to your@email.com --subject "Template Test" --body "Test content" --preview

Shows complete email content with template applied before sending.

Test Across Clients

Test in:

Gmail
Outlook
Apple Mail
Mobile apps
Web clients

Validation

Check for:

HTML validity
CSS compatibility
Image loading
Link functionality

Common Patterns

Call-to-Action Button

html

<a href="#" style="
  display: inline-block;
  padding: 12px 24px;
  background: #007bff;
  color: white;
  text-decoration: none;
  border-radius: 4px;
  font-weight: bold;
">Click Here</a>

html

<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 20px;">
  <a href="#" style="margin: 0 10px;">Twitter</a>
  <a href="#" style="margin: 0 10px;">LinkedIn</a>
  <a href="#" style="margin: 0 10px;">Facebook</a>
</div>

Quoted Text

html

<blockquote style="
  border-left: 4px solid #007bff;
  padding-left: 15px;
  margin: 20px 0;
  font-style: italic;
  color: #666;
">
  Quote text here
</blockquote>

Troubleshooting

Template Not Applied

Check template file exists
Verify not using --plain flag
Ensure HTML is valid
Check for syntax errors

Images Not Showing

Use absolute URLs
Check image permissions
Verify HTTPS for external images
Consider base64 encoding

Styling Issues

Use inline CSS
Avoid modern CSS features
Test in target email clients
Check specificity conflicts

Template Too Large

Optimize images
Minimize CSS
Remove unused styles
Consider simpler design

Examples

Corporate Template

bash

mailos template
# Select "Professional"
# Set company colors
# Add logo URL
# Customize fonts

Personal Blog Template

bash

mailos template
# Select "Creative"
# Choose vibrant colors
# Add profile image
# Custom signature

bash

mailos template
# Select "Modern"
# Wide layout
# Header image
# Social media links

Tips

Start Simple: Begin with minimal template and add features
Test Often: Send test emails after each major change
Keep Backups: Save working templates before modifications
Use Variables: Leverage placeholders for dynamic content
Mobile First: Design for mobile, enhance for desktop

EmailOS Template Command Documentation ​

Basic Usage ​

Quick Start ​

View Existing Template ​

Edit Template Interactively ​

Command-Line Flags ​

Template Features ​

Supported Elements ​

Template Variables ​

Interactive Editor ​

1. Quick Styles ​

2. Customization Options ​

Colors ​

Typography ​

Layout ​

Branding ​

Template Examples ​

Professional Template ​

Minimal Template ​

Template Management ​

Save Location ​

View Template in Browser ​

Apply Template ​

Remove Template ​

Export Template ​

Import Template ​

Advanced Customization ​

CSS Framework Integration ​

Responsive Design ​

Dark Mode Support ​

Custom Fonts ​

Profile Images ​

Adding Profile Image ​

Using in Template ​

Image Hosting ​

Template Best Practices ​

1. Email Client Compatibility ​

2. Accessibility ​

3. Performance ​

4. Mobile Optimization ​

Testing Templates ​

Browser Preview ​

Email Preview ​

Test Across Clients ​

Validation ​

Common Patterns ​

Call-to-Action Button ​

Social Media Links ​

Quoted Text ​

Troubleshooting ​

Template Not Applied ​

Images Not Showing ​

Styling Issues ​

Template Too Large ​

Examples ​

Corporate Template ​

Personal Blog Template ​

Newsletter Template ​

Tips ​

EmailOS Template Command Documentation

Basic Usage

Quick Start

View Existing Template

Edit Template Interactively

Command-Line Flags

Template Features

Supported Elements

Template Variables

Interactive Editor

1. Quick Styles

2. Customization Options

Colors

Typography

Layout

Branding

Template Examples

Professional Template

Minimal Template

Template Management

Save Location

View Template in Browser

Apply Template

Remove Template

Export Template

Import Template

Advanced Customization

CSS Framework Integration

Responsive Design

Dark Mode Support

Custom Fonts

Profile Images

Adding Profile Image

Using in Template

Image Hosting

Template Best Practices

1. Email Client Compatibility

2. Accessibility

3. Performance

4. Mobile Optimization

Testing Templates

Browser Preview

Email Preview

Test Across Clients

Validation

Common Patterns

Call-to-Action Button

Social Media Links

Quoted Text

Troubleshooting

Template Not Applied

Images Not Showing

Styling Issues

Template Too Large

Examples

Corporate Template

Personal Blog Template

Newsletter Template

Tips