Vision
For decades, terminal emulators have remained isolated islands. They run commands, display output, and that's it. Meanwhile, your life happens across dozens of applications: email clients, calendar apps, messaging platforms, task managers, weather widgets.
Every context switch costs focus. Every app switch breaks flow. Every notification pulls you away from what you're actually trying to do.
YEN integrations change that. Your email, your calendar, your text messages, your tasks — all visible in a single, unified terminal interface. No advertisements. No bullshit. Just focus.
The Unified Interface Promise
- One place for everything - See your email, calendar, messages, and more without leaving your terminal
- Zero context switching - Everything you need is right there, visible and accessible
- Simple and focused - No ads, no distractions, no unnecessary complexity
- Built for productivity - Designed for people who want to get things done, not be entertained
Why This Hasn't Happened Yet
The idea of integrating everything into a terminal isn't new. But the terminal landscape has remained fragmented, and the tools that exist haven't solved the fundamental problem.
1970s-1990s: The Terminal Era
Terminals were simple text interfaces. They did one thing: run commands. This simplicity was their strength, but also their limitation. Everything lived in separate applications.
2000s-2010s: GUI Dominance
Graphical applications took over. Email clients, calendar apps, messaging platforms — all separate, all requiring context switches. Terminals became "developer tools" only, isolated from the rest of computing.
2010s-2020s: The Integration Attempts
Some tried to build integrated terminal experiences. Most failed because they tried to replicate GUI complexity in the terminal. Others built proprietary systems that locked you in. None solved the fundamental problem: everything still lived in separate places.
2025: YEN Integrations
The technology finally exists to make this work. YEN's integrations system provides a simple, unified interface for integrating everything into your terminal. No proprietary lock-in. No complexity. Just your entire world, integrated into one zero bullshit interface.
What Makes YEN Different
- Simple integration framework - Built into YEN, not a separate proprietary system
- Open and extensible - Plugin system allows you to add your own integrations
- Unified interface - Everything visible in one place, not scattered across multiple apps
- Zero bullshit - No ads, no tracking, no distractions. Just focus.
Planned Integrations
These integrations will be built into YEN as part of Phase 2. Each integration follows the same simple pattern: display information in your terminal, accessible with simple commands or keyboard shortcuts.
Coming Soon! Thanks for testing!| Integration | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Read and send emails directly from your terminal. IMAP/SMTP support for any provider. | Planned | |
| Calendar | View upcoming events, schedule meetings, and manage your calendar without leaving the terminal. | Planned |
| Text Messages | Send and receive SMS/iMessage from your terminal. Unified messaging in one interface. | Planned |
| Weather | Quick weather updates and forecasts. No need to open a browser or app. | Planned |
| Git Status | Real-time git repository status, branch information, and commit history at a glance. | Planned |
| Task Management | Integrate with your task management system. View and manage todos without context switching. | Planned |
| Notifications | Unified notification center. See all your alerts, reminders, and updates in one place. | Planned |
| System Status | Monitor system resources, network status, and system health directly in your terminal. | Planned |
| Automation Engine | Create workflows and automations that connect your integrations. Trigger actions based on events across all your services. | Planned |
| Retro Learning System | YEN learns from your usage patterns and retros. The more you use it, the smarter it gets. AI-powered intelligence that compounds with your approval. | Planned |
| Time Tracking | Track time spent on projects and tasks. See where your time goes without switching to a separate app. | Planned |
| Note Taking | Quick notes and snippets accessible from your terminal. Search, tag, and organize without leaving your workflow. | Planned |
| Password Manager | Access your passwords securely from the terminal. No need to unlock a separate app for quick lookups. | Planned |
| File Browser | Enhanced file operations with preview, search, and quick actions. Navigate your filesystem faster. | Planned |
| Network Tools | Ping, traceroute, DNS lookup, and network diagnostics. All your networking tools in one place. | Planned |
| API Testing | Test APIs and webhooks directly from your terminal. Send requests, view responses, debug endpoints. | Planned |
How It Works
YEN integrations are built directly into the terminal. Each integration follows a simple pattern:
- Simple commands - Use commands like
yen emailoryen calendarto view your data - Unified display - All integrations display in your terminal using consistent formatting
- Keyboard shortcuts - Quick access to frequently used integrations
- Plugin system - Add your own integrations or customize existing ones
Example: Email Integration
View your unread emails directly in your terminal:
$ yen emailSend an email:
$ yen email send --to someone@example.com --subject "Hello"All from your terminal. No need to open a separate email client.
Simplicity First
YEN integrations are designed to be simple. No complex setup. No proprietary protocols. No lock-in. Just connect your existing services and see everything in one place.
- Email - Connect via IMAP/SMTP. Works with any provider.
- Calendar - Connect via CalDAV or iCal. See your schedule at a glance.
- Text Messages - macOS Messages integration. Send and receive from your terminal.
- Everything else - Simple APIs, simple displays, simple access.