Local Backup of Gmail using Getmail

Install Getmail :
Download Getmail, open terminal and type

tar xzvf getmail*.tar.gz
cd [unpacked directory]
sudo python setup.py install

Configure Getmail :
Create a file at ~/.getmail/getmailrc and put the following text in it

[retriever]
type = SimplePOP3SSLRetriever
server = pop.gmail.com
username = example@gmail.com
password = password

[destination]
type = Mboxrd
path = ~/gmail-backup/gmail.mbox

[options]
verbose = 2
message_log = ~/.getmail/gmail.log

Create the mbox file ~/gmail-backup/gmail.mbox

Run getmail :
getmail

Ahsan Habib