mu4e: show short counts next to maildir/bookmark entry

When you ask for bookmarks or maildirs through mu4e-ask-bookmark,
mu4e-ask-maildir, the counts are displayed in the (default) completions
next to the maildirs. This is a shorter version of the full display,
just showing either the delta or the number of unread messages, if any.
If you don't want to see these counts, there is mu4e-hide-short-counts.

NEWS.org

@@ -66,6 +66,11 @@
     server interpreted the last query; this can be useful if you don't get the
     result you expected.
 
+  - When you ask for bookmarks or maildirs through ~mu4e-ask-bookmark~ or
+    ~mu4e-ask-maildir~, unread counts are displayed in the (default) completions UI
+    next to the maildir or bookmark. If you don't want to see these counts, set
+    ~mu4e-hide-short-counts~ to non-~nil~.
+
 * 1.12 (released on February 24, 2024)
 
 ** Some highlights

mu4e/mu4e-bookmarks.el

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ;;; mu4e-bookmarks.el --- Bookmarks handling -*- lexical-binding: t -*-
 
-;; Copyright (C) 2011-2023 Dirk-Jan C. Binnema
+;; Copyright (C) 2011-2025 Dirk-Jan C. Binnema
 
 ;; Author: Dirk-Jan C. Binnema <djcb@djcbsoftware.nl>
 ;; Maintainer: Dirk-Jan C. Binnema <djcb@djcbsoftware.nl>
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 (require 'mu4e-folders)
 (require 'mu4e-query-items)
 
-
 ;;; Configuration
 
 (defgroup mu4e-bookmarks nil
@@ -79,19 +78,33 @@ query."
   :type '(repeat (plist))
   :group 'mu4e-bookmarks)
 
+(declare-function mu4e-query-items "mu4e-query-items")
+(declare-function mu4e--query-item-display-short-counts "mu4e-query-items")
 
 (defun mu4e-ask-bookmark (prompt)
   "Ask user for bookmark using PROMPT.
 Return the corresponding query. The bookmark are as defined in
-`mu4e-bookmarks'."
+`mu4e-bookmarks'.
+
+The names of the bookmarks are displayed in the minibuffer,
+suffixed with the short version of the unread counts, as per
+`mu4e--query-item-display-short-counts'."
   (unless (mu4e-bookmarks) (mu4e-error "No bookmarks defined"))
-  (let* ((bmarks (seq-map (lambda (bm)
+  (let* ((bmarks
-                            (cons (format "%c%s"
+          (seq-map
-                                          (plist-get bm :key)
+           (lambda (bm) ;; find query-item for bookmark
-                                          (plist-get bm :name))
+             (let* ((qitem (seq-find
-                                  (plist-get bm :query)))
+                           (lambda (qitem)
-                          (mu4e-filter-single-key (mu4e-bookmarks)))))
+                             (equal (plist-get bm :query) (plist-get qitem :query)))
-    (mu4e-read-option prompt bmarks)))
+                           (mu4e-query-items 'bookmarks)))
+                    (unreads (mu4e--query-item-display-short-counts qitem)))
+               (cons (format "%c%s%s"
+                             (plist-get bm :key)
+                             (plist-get bm :name)
+                             unreads)
+                     (plist-get bm :query))))
+          (mu4e-filter-single-key (mu4e-bookmarks)))))
+  (mu4e-read-option prompt bmarks)))
 
 (defun mu4e-get-bookmark-query (kar)
   "Get the corresponding bookmarked query for shortcut KAR.
@@ -190,6 +203,5 @@ one, creates a propertized string for display in the modeline."
                            (mouse-1 . mu4e-jump-to-favorite)
                            (mouse-2 . mu4e-jump-to-favorite)
                            (mouse-3 . mu4e-jump-to-favorite))))))
-
 (provide 'mu4e-bookmarks)
 ;;; mu4e-bookmarks.el ends here

mu4e/mu4e-context.el

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ;;; mu4e-context.el --- Switching between settings -*- lexical-binding: t -*-
 
-;; Copyright (C) 2015-2023 Dirk-Jan C. Binnema
+;; Copyright (C) 2015-2025 Dirk-Jan C. Binnema
 
 ;; Author: Dirk-Jan C. Binnema <djcb@djcbsoftware.nl>
 ;; Maintainer: Dirk-Jan C. Binnema <djcb@djcbsoftware.nl>
@@ -87,6 +87,9 @@ none."
 (cl-defstruct mu4e-context
   "A mu4e context object with the following members:
 - `name': the name of the context, eg. \"Work\" or \"Private\".
+   When using mu4e's default completion, it uses the first letter of
+   the name for this, so you should ensure those are different for
+   all contexts.
 - `enter-func': a parameterless function invoked when entering
   this context, or nil
 - `leave-func':a parameterless function invoked when leaving this
@@ -104,7 +107,6 @@ none."
   ;; if it matches, nil otherwise
   vars) ;; alist of variables.
 
-
 (defun mu4e--context-ask-user (prompt)
   "Let user choose some context based on its name with PROMPT."
   (when mu4e-contexts
@@ -168,7 +170,7 @@ match, return the first. For MSG and POLICY, see
                      nil (mu4e-context-name context))))))
 
 (defun mu4e-context-determine (msg &optional policy)
-  "Return the first context where match-func evaluate to non-nil.
+  "Return first context for which match-func returns non-nil.
 
 MSG points to the plist for the message replied to or forwarded,
 or nil if there is no such MSG; similar to what

mu4e/mu4e-folders.el

@@ -177,6 +177,16 @@ Converts from the old format if needed."
                item))
            mu4e-maildir-shortcuts))
 
+(declare-function mu4e-query-items "mu4e-query-items")
+(declare-function mu4e--query-item-display-short-counts "mu4e-query-items")
+
+(defun mu4e--query-item-for-maildir-shortcut (mds)
+  "Find the corresponding query-item for some maildir shortcut MDS.
+This is based on their query. Return nil if not found."
+  (seq-find (lambda (qitem)
+              (equal (plist-get qitem :maildir) (plist-get mds :maildir)))
+            (mu4e-query-items 'maildirs)))
+
 ;; the standard folders can be functions too
 (defun mu4e--get-folder (foldervar msg)
   "Within the mu-context of MSG, get message folder FOLDERVAR.
@@ -231,7 +241,7 @@ to create it; otherwise return nil."
   (let ((seems-to-exist (file-directory-p dir)))
     (when (or seems-to-exist
               (yes-or-no-p (mu4e-format "%s does not exist yet. Create now?" dir)))
-      ;; even when the maildir already seems to exist, call mkdir for a deeper
+      ;; even when the maildir already seems to exist, call mkdir for a deepe
       ;; check. However only get an update when the maildir is totally new.
       (mu4e--server-mkdir dir (not seems-to-exist))
       t)))
@@ -245,14 +255,23 @@ to create it; otherwise return nil."
 
 If the special shortcut \"o\" (for _o_ther) is used, or
 if (mu4e-maildir-shortcuts) evaluates to nil, let user choose
-from all maildirs under `mu4e-maildir'."
+from all maildirs under `mu4e-maildir'.
+
+The names of the maildirs are displayed in the minibuffer,
+suffixed with the short version of the unread counts, as per
+`mu4e--query-item-display-short-counts'."
   (let* ((options
-         (seq-map (lambda (md)
+         (seq-map
-                    (cons
+          (lambda (md)
-                     (format "%c%s" (plist-get md :key)
+            (let* ((qitem (mu4e--query-item-for-maildir-shortcut md))
-                             (or (plist-get md :name)
+                   (unreads (mu4e--query-item-display-short-counts qitem)))
-                                 (plist-get md :maildir)))
+              (cons
-                     (plist-get md :maildir)))
+               (format "%c%s%s"
+                       (plist-get md :key)
+                       (or (plist-get md :name)
+                           (plist-get md :maildir))
+                       unreads)
+               (plist-get md :maildir))))
                   (mu4e-filter-single-key (mu4e-maildir-shortcuts))))
         (response
          (if (not options)

mu4e/mu4e-query-items.el

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ;;; mu4e-query-items.el --- Manage query results -*- lexical-binding: t -*-
 
-;; Copyright (C) 2023-2024 Dirk-Jan C. Binnema
+;; Copyright (C) 2023-2025 Dirk-Jan C. Binnema
 
 ;; Author: Dirk-Jan C. Binnema <djcb@djcbsoftware.nl>
 ;; Maintainer: Dirk-Jan C. Binnema <djcb@djcbsoftware.nl>
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ incorrect results for the various unread counts."
   :type 'function
   :group 'mu4e-search)
 
+(defcustom mu4e-hide-short-counts nil
+  "Hide the short count of unread messages.
+As used in `mu4e-ask-bookmark' and `mu4e-ask-folder'."
+  :type 'boolean
+  :group 'mu4e)
+
 (defvar mu4e--query-items-baseline nil
   "Some previous version of the query-items.
 This is used as the baseline to track updates by comparing it to
@@ -98,7 +104,9 @@ If ITEMS does not yet have a favorite item, pick the first."
 (declare-function mu4e-maildir-shortcuts "mu4e-folders")
 
 (defun mu4e--query-item-display-counts (item)
-  "Get the count display string for some query-data ITEM."
+  "Get the count display string for some query-data ITEM.
+If the items has its `:hide-unread' at a non-nil value, return
+an empty string."
   ;; purely for display, but we need it in the main menu, modeline
   ;; so let's keep it consistent.
   (cl-destructuring-bind (&key unread hide-unread delta-unread count
@@ -116,6 +124,25 @@ If ITEMS does not yet have a favorite item, pick the first."
        (propertize (number-to-string count)
                    'help-echo "Total number")))))
 
+(defun mu4e--query-item-display-short-counts (item)
+  "Get the short count display string for some query-data ITEM.
+This gets the delta if it is greater than zero. Otherwise, the
+total unread count if is greater than zero. Otherwise, an empty
+string.
+
+If the items has its `:hide-unread' at a non-nil value, or if
+`mu4e-hide-short-counts' is non-nil, returns an empty string."
+  (cl-destructuring-bind (&key unread hide-unread delta-unread
+                               &allow-other-keys) item
+    (if (or hide-unread mu4e-hide-short-counts)
+        ""
+      (concat
+       (if (> (or delta-unread 0) 0)
+           (concat "(" (propertize (format "+%d" delta-unread) 'face 'mu4e-unread-face) ")")
+         (if (> (or unread 0) 0)
+             (concat "(" (propertize (format "%d" unread) 'face 'mu4e-header-key-face) ")")
+           ""))))))
+
 (defun mu4e--query-items-refresh (&optional reset-baseline)
   "Get the latest query data from the mu4e server.
 With RESET-BASELINE, reset the baseline first."
@@ -210,7 +237,8 @@ bookmark or maildir."
        ;; useful for debugging.
        (unless (string= query effective-query)
          (plist-put value :effective-query effective-query))
-
+       ;;for matching maildir shortcuts
+       (when maildir (plist-put value :maildir maildir))
        ;; nil props bring me discomfort
        (when (plist-get item :favorite)
          (plist-put value :favorite t))

mu4e/mu4e-search.el

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ;;; mu4e-search.el --- Search-related functions -*- lexical-binding: t -*-
 
-;; Copyright (C) 2021,2024 Dirk-Jan C. Binnema
+;; Copyright (C) 2021-2025 Dirk-Jan C. Binnema
 
 ;; Author: Dirk-Jan C. Binnema <djcb@djcbsoftware.nl>
 ;; Maintainer: Dirk-Jan C. Binnema <djcb@djcbsoftware.nl>

mu4e/mu4e.texi

@@ -847,7 +847,7 @@ attention:
   ;; bookmark for message that require quick attention
   '( :name "Urgent"
      :key  ?u
-     :query "maildir:/inbox AND from:boss@@exmaple.com"))
+     :query "maildir:/inbox AND from:boss@@example.com"))
 @end lisp
 
 Note that @t{mu4e} resets the baseline when you are interacting with it (for
@@ -859,6 +859,13 @@ as being a special kind of bookmark query that matches a Maildir. You can
 configure this using the variable @code{mu4e-maildir-shortcuts}; see its
 docstring and @ref{Maildir searches} for more details.
 
+When you ask for bookmarks or maildirs through @code{mu4e-ask-bookmark},
+@code{mu4e-ask-maildir}, the counts are displayed in the (default) completions
+next to the maildir or bookmark entry. This is a shorter version of the full
+display, just showing either the delta or the number of unread messages, if any.
+If you do not want to see these counts, set @t{mu4e-hide-short-counts} to
+non-@t{nil}.
+
 @node Miscellaneous
 @section Miscellaneous
 
@@ -2610,6 +2617,8 @@ Let's see what's contained in a context. Most of it is optional.
 A @code{mu4e-context} is Lisp object with the following members:
 @itemize
 @item @t{name}: the name of the context, e.g. @t{work} or @t{private}
+in the default completion UI, @t{mu4e} uses the first letter of the context to
+select them, so you should ensure all start with a different letter
 @item @t{vars}:
 an association-list (alist) of variable settings for this account.
 @item @t{enter-func}: