root/imapclient/examples/idle_example.py

# This example is a lot more interesting if you have an active client
# connected to the same IMAP account!

from imapclient import IMAPClient

HOST = 'imap.host.com'
USERNAME = 'someuser'
PASSWORD = 'password'
ssl = True

server = IMAPClient(HOST, use_uid=True, ssl=ssl)
server.login(USERNAME, PASSWORD)
server.select_folder('INBOX')

# Start IDLE mode
server.idle()     

# Wait for up to 30 seconds for an IDLE response
responses = server.idle_check(timeout=30)
print responses

# Come out of IDLE mode
text, responses = server.idle_done()
print 'IDLE done. Server said %r' % text
print 'Final responses: ', responses
    
print server.logout()