# Thunderbird CLI Enhanced [Health: Active]

**Category:** 💬 Communication  
**Repository:** https://github.com/odience-network/thunderbird-cli-enhanced  
**GitHub Stars:** 1  
**npm Downloads (last month):** 443  
**Views:** 1  
**Installs:** 0  
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**Directory Page:** https://allmcps.com/mcp/odience-network-thunderbird-cli-enhanced

## Description
Thunderbird email for AI agents: the tb CLI, the tb-bridge daemon and the tb-mcp MCP server in one package. Enhanced fork of thunderbird-cli by Vitalii Ionov.

## Claude Desktop Quick Installation
Install path detected from listing signals. Uses `npx` (confidence: high):

```json
"mcpServers": {
  "thunderbird-cli-enhanced": {
    "command": "npx",
    "args": ["-y","-p","@odience-network/thunderbird-cli-enhanced","tb-mcp"]
  }
}
```

## Documentation

## What Thunderbird CLI Enhanced does

The Thunderbird CLI Enhanced MCP server gives AI agents access to data and actions in a local Mozilla Thunderbird profile. It packages three related commands: `tb` for direct CLI use, `tb-bridge` for the local bridge daemon, and `tb-mcp` for exposing the capabilities through Model Context Protocol.

Email operations include reading messages, searching by text and metadata, inspecting folders, handling attachments, composing, replying, forwarding, editing drafts, moving messages, and performing bulk actions. The package also covers contact read and write operations, calendars and events, tasks, and local Markdown notes. Fast Actions can turn an email into a note, task, event, or contact when the required Thunderbird add-on version and policy permissions are available.

The design keeps mailbox credentials inside Thunderbird. Agents communicate with local processes instead of receiving IMAP or SMTP passwords, and the project states that it does not use a cloud service or telemetry.

## How it works

An agent invokes `tb-mcp` over MCP, or a user runs `tb` directly. The CLI and MCP server can start the bridge automatically on first use. The bridge communicates over localhost with the Thunderbird WebExtension, which performs the requested mailbox or productivity operation through Thunderbird APIs.

The extension applies the configured access policy before write, send, deletion, contact, calendar, or task operations proceed. Unknown routes are denied, and deletion requires explicit confirmation. Compose, reply, forward, and draft-edit operations are designed to save drafts rather than send messages automatically.

Output can be reduced for agent workflows with field selection, compact formatting, body-length limits, and an optional output version. Search supports full-text queries and additional filters such as sender, subject, dates, unread state, flagged state, size, and tags. The CLI also provides compact views for daily events, weekly information, clashes, and sender-based summaries.

## Setup and configuration

Install Node.js 20 or newer, Thunderbird 128 or newer, and the npm package:

```bash
npm i -g @odience-network/thunderbird-cli-enhanced
```

This provides `tb`, `tb-bridge`, and `tb-mcp`. Source installation is also available through the repository’s macOS/Linux setup script or Windows PowerShell script. A compatible Thunderbird extension must be installed separately from the project’s release files. The README distinguishes the older ATN-signed 2.1.0 extension from the newer 2.4.0 build, which is unsigned while its review is pending and includes calendar, task, and Fast Action support.

For Claude Desktop, configure `tb-mcp` directly or use `npx` to fetch the package on demand. Claude Code can add the same server with its `claude mcp add` command. After installation, `tb health` and `tb stats` provide basic checks and mailbox statistics.

The Thunderbird CLI Enhanced MCP server also includes a companion Claude skill, installed separately, that guides safer defaults and token-efficient tool use. The skill is optional; the MCP server functions without it.

## Tools and capabilities

The Thunderbird CLI Enhanced MCP server includes 42 MCP tools and 74 CLI commands according to the README. Supported capability areas include:

- Read, search, count, filter, move, archive, and bulk-process email.
- Compose, reply, forward, and edit messages as drafts.
- Download attachments and manage folders.
- Read and write contacts.
- List calendars and events, create or update events, delete events, and detect cross-calendar clashes.
- Create, update, delete, and extract action items for tasks.
- Store local Markdown notes, render notes into drafts, and transcribe local voice memos with supported local transcription tools.
- Produce one-click email actions for notes, tasks, events, and contacts.

## Limitations and notes

The Thunderbird CLI Enhanced MCP server is local-only and depends on a running, configured Thunderbird environment plus the required extension. Calendar, task, and Fast Action features require the newer add-on; some task and email-to-task actions specifically require the `tasksWrite` permission and add-on 2.4.0.

Write permissions are not all enabled by default. Deletion and contact, calendar, and task writes are governed by policy, and unknown routes fail closed. Permanent deletion needs `--confirm`, while draft-oriented message operations do not automatically send mail.

The README identifies Claude Desktop and Claude Code setup examples, but it does not document provider-specific behavior for other MCP clients. The package is licensed under MIT.

_Full upstream README: https://allmcps.com/mcp/odience-network-thunderbird-cli-enhanced/readme_