inbox_count.py

#!/usr/bin/env python

import imaplib
import sys
from boto.ec2 import cloudwatch

email, password, mailbox = sys.argv[1:]

imap = imaplib.IMAP4_SSL('imap.gmail.com')
imap.login(email, password)

status, counts = imap.select(mailbox)
count = counts[0]

cw = cloudwatch.CloudWatchConnection()
cw.put_metric_data(
    'Team',
    'InboxCount',
    value=count,
    unit='Count',
    dimensions={
        'Email': email
    })

print email, mailbox, count

inbox_count_on_timer.sh

#!/bin/bash

email=$1
read -s -p "password for $email: " password
echo

while true
do
    env python tools/inbox_count.py $email "$password" INBOX
    sleep 50
done