allman

allman is a local-first command-line and terminal UI tool designed for managing direct messages from multiple platforms within a single shell environment. It enables users to read, search, reply to, and organize their messages directly from the terminal, positioning itself as a programmable, open layer for messaging channels. The tool currently supports LinkedIn for full synchronization, real-time listening, sending, reacting, and searching, with plans to add adapters for iMessage, Slack, Discord, email, and SMS in the future.

The platform emphasizes data ownership and privacy by storing all messages as plain JSONL files in a local git repository on the user's disk, with no cloud synchronization or telemetry. Users can leverage familiar Unix tools such as cat, grep, and git log to interact with their data. Authentication is handled through a real browser session, and credentials never leave the local machine. The tool's design is keyboard-driven, with vim-style navigation, inline search, emoji reactions, and live updates via real-time event streams.

allman features both a command-line interface and a terminal-based inbox UI (allman-tui), allowing users to browse, read, compose, search, and react to messages using keyboard shortcuts. It supports piping commands and structured JSON output, making it suitable for integration with other tools, scripts, or AI agents. Every command can output JSON, and long-running event streams are available as NDJSON for real-time processing. The tool includes pre-send safety guards, rate limits, and aborts if new inbound messages arrive before an agent sends a reply, ensuring safe and reliable automation.

Installation is accomplished via a single binary for macOS and Linux, without the need for a package manager. The tool is designed for individuals who prefer working in the shell and want a programmable, inspectable, and composable messaging workflow.