starts work on recent emails.

docs/design/imap-connectivity.md

@@ -80,6 +80,17 @@ class User(Base, UserMixin):
     # ... existing fields ...
 ```
 
+### Folder Model Updates
+
+The `Folder` model now includes a new field for storing recent email information:
+
+```python
+class Folder(Base):
+    # ... existing fields ...
+    recent_emails = db.Column(db.JSON, default=list)  # Store recent email subjects with dates
+    # ... existing fields ...
+```
+
 ### IMAP Configuration Structure
 
 ```json
@@ -267,6 +278,83 @@ class IMAPService:
         except Exception as e:
             db.session.rollback()
             return False, f"Sync error: {str(e)}"
+    
+    def get_recent_emails(self, folder_name: str, limit: int = 3) -> List[Dict[str, any]]:
+        """Get the most recent email subjects and dates from a specific folder."""
+        try:
+            # Connect to IMAP server
+            self._connect()
+            
+            # Login
+            self.connection.login(
+                self.config.get('username', ''),
+                self.config.get('password', '')
+            )
+            
+            # Select the folder
+            resp_code, content = self.connection.select(folder_name)
+            if resp_code != 'OK':
+                return []
+            
+            # Get email IDs (most recent first)
+            resp_code, content = self.connection.search(None, 'ALL')
+            if resp_code != 'OK':
+                return []
+            
+            # Get the most recent emails (limit to 3)
+            email_ids = content[0].split()
+            recent_email_ids = email_ids[:limit] if len(email_ids) >= limit else email_ids
+            
+            recent_emails = []
+            for email_id in reversed(recent_email_ids):  # Process from newest to oldest
+                # Fetch the email headers
+                resp_code, content = self.connection.fetch(email_id, '(RFC822.HEADER)')
+                if resp_code != 'OK':
+                    continue
+                
+                # Parse the email headers
+                raw_email = content[0][1]
+                import email
+                msg = email.message_from_bytes(raw_email)
+                
+                # Extract subject and date
+                subject = msg.get('Subject', 'No Subject')
+                date_str = msg.get('Date', '')
+                
+                # Decode the subject if needed
+                try:
+                    decoded_parts = decode_header(subject)
+                    subject = ''.join([str(part, encoding or 'utf-8') if isinstance(part, bytes) else part for part, encoding in decoded_parts])
+                except Exception:
+                    pass  # If decoding fails, use the original subject
+                
+                # Parse date if available
+                try:
+                    email_date = parsedate_to_datetime(date_str) if date_str else None
+                except Exception:
+                    email_date = None
+                
+                recent_emails.append({
+                    'subject': subject,
+                    'date': email_date.isoformat() if email_date else None
+                })
+            
+            # Close folder and logout
+            self.connection.close()
+            self.connection.logout()
+            self.connection = None
+            
+            return recent_emails
+            
+        except Exception as e:
+            logging.error(f"Error getting recent emails for folder {folder_name}: {str(e)}")
+            if self.connection:
+                try:
+                    self.connection.logout()
+                except:
+                    pass
+            self.connection = None
+            return []
 ```
 
 ## Routes Implementation