Which command-line tool can back up an entire IMAP mail account?

I want to create an automated backup script. Which command-line tool can download/export an entire IMAP email account (including all folders and outbox)?

Requirements:
- eml or some other non-proprietary format.
- Preserve attachments. Normally, they are contained inside the eml file.
- It needs to be a non-interactive command-line tool so it can be accessed from scripts. Non-interactive means it shouldn't stop and ask questions. This would break scripts.

Optional extras:
- Ideally, reproduce the directory structure of the email inbox locally. This means create a local folder for every email account folder. But I can also do that manually.
- Ideally, do not mark emails as read when downloading like Thunderbird does. I only want stuff mark as read when I actually, you know, read it.

Why not POP3? Because it only gets the main inbox folder, no other folders and no outbox.

I think just about any mail client can do it. Thunderbird definitely can, and it uses maildir format lately. So does offlineIMAP, if your are looking for command line tools.

Originally Posted by exerceo I want to create an automated backup script. Which command-line tool can download/export an entire IMAP email account (including all folders and outbox)? Requirements: - eml or some other non-proprietary format. - Preserve attachments. Normally, they are contained inside the eml file. - It needs to be a non-interactive command-line tool so it can be accessed from scripts. Non-interactive means it shouldn't stop and ask questions. This would break scripts. Optional extras: - Ideally, reproduce the directory structure of the email inbox locally. This means create a local folder for every email account folder. But I can also do that manually. - Ideally, do not mark emails as read when downloading like Thunderbird does. I only want stuff mark as read when I actually, you know, read it. Why not POP3? Because it only gets the main inbox folder, no other folders and no outbox.

Did you do any research on this??? Several tools exist, and as lvm_ said, any email client can do this as well. There is imapsync and imap-backup, both of which are on github and are fairly current.

Originally Posted by TB0ne Several tools exist, and as lvm_ said, any email client can do this as well.

I know that many tools exist, but I want a non-proprietary non-vendor-locked format like eml. Thunderbird stores it in some difficult-to-access database format and does not seem to automatically store attachments. And its eml export feature automatically marks emails as read, which is unwanted.

I want eml files with the attachments included. But thanks, I will try out these tools.