---
name: "modest"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "modest"
version: "3.90.4-2"
release: "Debian 6.0 (Squeeze)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/modest"
---

# modest(1)

The Modest Mail User Agent

## NAME

modest - The Modest Mail User Agent

## SYNOPSIS

**modest** \[showui\]

## DESCRIPTION

Modest is a graphical e-mail program, targetting resource-constrained environments, such as older PCs and internet tablets. It aims to be easy to use and provide a complete e-mail experience, while keeping the resource usage at a modest level (by 2007 standards).

## OPTIONS

- showui

  To actually start with the UI, you have to provide the 'showui' parameter to modest. Reason for this not being the default is to allow for DBUS-activation of various services without showing the UI.

## ENVIRONMENT

**MODEST\_DEBUG** The MODEST\_DEBUG environment may contain any number of ':'-separated strings to trigger certain debugging features:

- abort-on-warning

  Abort the program when any Gtk/Glib warning or error occurs. This can be useful when running inside a debugger.

- debug-code

  Run various pieces of debug-only code in modest

- log-actions

  Log actions to the log file (not available yet)

- debug-objects

  Debug GObject usage (G\_TYPE\_DEBUG\_OBJECTS)

- debug-signals

  Debug GSignal usage (G\_TYPE\_DEBUG\_SIGNALS)

- factory-settings

  Return all the user-settings to the 'factory defaults'

## EXIT CODES

Normally, modest will exit with 0 as its exit code. In case of any error, the exit code will be non-zero.

## FILES

- \~/.modest/cache

  Modest e-mail cache.

- \~/.modest/local\_folders

  Root of the local folders hierarchy (in Maildir format)

## BUGS

Some...  If you find one, please let us know!

## NO WARRANTIES

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

## SEE ALSO

**mutt**(3), [**maildir**(5)](/maildir/5.md),

Modest Home Page: http://modest.garage.maemo.org/

## COPYRIGHTS

Copyright (c) 2006,2007 Nokia Corporation All rights reserved.

## AUTHORS

Dirk-Jan C. Binnema and many others. Modest uses the Tinymail framework, written by Philip Van Hoof.