Gmail-like keyboard shortcuts in Mail.app (keys without modifiers)

How can I create keyboard shortcuts in Mail.app that do not require modifiers? For example, I'd like j/k to scroll the message pane. Maybe n/p to navigate between messages. Maybe N/P to navigate to unread messages. Maybe a to archve a message.

The key point here is that the shortcuts should not require modifiers: No Command, no Ctrl, no Option.

The gmail shortcuts are different, but similar in that they don't require modifiers.

Try GMailinator. It's free and doesn't require configuration or start any extra process. GMailinator may not as flexible as keyboard macro software while if you're looking for exactly gmail shortcuts, it's a good fit.

BTW, if you don't have Xcode to build from source code, the compiled binary could be found at release tab.

I've accomplished this with Keyboard Maestro. I've setup the navigation keys, then activate and deactivate them with Escape.

Setup a group scoped to Apple Mail that is activated via Escape:

Delete Gmail style:

Move down:

Move up:

Create a shortcut for archiving. You could use e when Escape is activated to simulate Gmail's shortcut, but I prefer this as it doesn't matter what mode I am in:

You will need to bind a key to Archive in System Preferences:

Confirm in Apple Mail:

Use your imagination!

The link provided above has stopped updating. this guy has forked and updated for the newest Mail.app (comes with El Capitan) ankushg/GMailinator. You need to build from source code, unfortunately, but if you are geeky enough to use Gmail shortcuts, I believe this is easy.