Milestone 1 Build Email 1.0 Backend (and Reuse Existing Email Client)

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Introduction

In this milestone, we focus on developing a fully functional, self-hostable backend email system, Email 1.0, that mirrors the core capabilities of popular email platforms like Gmail and Outlook. This system will include setting up core email protocols (SMTP, IMAP), DNS configuration, secure transport (TLS), multi-user authentication, MIME handling with attachments, folder management (Inbox, Sent, Spam), and delivery to/from external addresses. The stack will be containerized for deployment and include spam filtering, rate limiting, a web-based admin panel, and user privacy features. To ensure the system's functionality and security, we will reuse an existing open-source email client for testing and verification.

Objectives

Our primary objectives for this milestone are:

  • Develop SMTP and IMAP services with encryption and authentication: We will set up secure SMTP and IMAP services that support encryption and authentication, ensuring that email communications are secure and protected from unauthorized access.
  • Implement full mail flow: send → receive → view: We will implement a full mail flow that allows users to send, receive, and view emails, ensuring that the system is functional and user-friendly.
  • Support multiple users with isolated inboxes: We will implement a system that supports multiple users with isolated inboxes, ensuring that each user's emails are private and secure.
  • Add MIME, attachments, folder structure, and spam filters: We will add support for MIME, attachments, folder structure, and spam filters, ensuring that the system is feature-rich and effective.
  • Deploy via Docker and validate in AWS: We will deploy the system via Docker and validate its functionality in AWS, ensuring that it is scalable and reliable.
  • Build a secure admin interface: We will build a secure admin interface that allows administrators to manage the system, ensuring that it is secure and user-friendly.
  • Enable external delivery and ensure privacy/audit compliance: We will enable external delivery and ensure that the system is compliant with privacy and audit regulations, ensuring that user data is protected.
  • Validate with end-to-end and security testing: We will validate the system with end-to-end and security testing, ensuring that it is secure, reliable, and functional.

Development Approach

To achieve these objectives, we will follow a structured development approach that includes:

  • Requirements gathering: We will gather requirements from stakeholders and users to ensure that the system meets their needs and expectations.
  • Design: We will design the system architecture, including the selection of technologies and tools, to ensure that it is scalable, reliable, and secure.
  • Implementation: We will implement the system, including the development of SMTP and IMAP services, MIME handling, folder management, and spam filters.
  • Testing: We will test the system, including end-to-end and security testing, to ensure that it is functional, secure, and reliable.
  • Deployment: We will deploy the system via Docker and validate its functionality in AWS.
  • Maintenance: We will maintain the system, including bug fixing, security updates, and performance optimization.

Reusing Existing Email Client

To ensure the system's functionality and security, we will reuse an existing open-source email client for testing and verification. This will allow us to:

  • Validate system functionality: We will validate the system's functionality by testing it with the email client, ensuring that it is functional and user-friendly.
  • Identify security vulnerabilities: We will identify security vulnerabilities in the system by testing it with the email client, ensuring that it is secure and protected from unauthorized access.
  • Optimize system performance: We will optimize the system's performance by testing it with the email client, ensuring that it is scalable and reliable.

Expected Completion

We expect to complete this milestone by July 11, 2025, ensuring that the system is fully functional, secure, and reliable.

Conclusion

Q&A

Q: What is the primary objective of this milestone? A: The primary objective of this milestone is to develop a fully functional, self-hostable backend email system, Email 1.0, that mirrors the core capabilities of popular email platforms like Gmail and Outlook.

Q: What are the core email protocols that will be implemented in this milestone? A: The core email protocols that will be implemented in this milestone are SMTP and IMAP, which will support encryption and authentication.

Q: How will the system support multiple users with isolated inboxes? A: The system will support multiple users with isolated inboxes by implementing a user authentication system that ensures each user's emails are private and secure.

Q: What is the role of the existing open-source email client in this milestone? A: The existing open-source email client will be reused for testing and verification to ensure the system's functionality and security.

Q: What are the benefits of deploying the system via Docker? A: Deploying the system via Docker will ensure that it is scalable, reliable, and secure, and will also allow for easy deployment and management.

Q: What is the expected completion date for this milestone? A: The expected completion date for this milestone is July 11, 2025.

Q: What are the key features that will be implemented in this milestone? A: The key features that will be implemented in this milestone include:

  • SMTP and IMAP services with encryption and authentication
  • Full mail flow: send → receive → view
  • Support for multiple users with isolated inboxes
  • MIME, attachments, folder structure, and spam filters
  • Secure admin interface
  • External delivery and privacy/audit compliance
  • End-to-end and security testing

Q: How will the system ensure user privacy and audit compliance? A: The system will ensure user privacy and audit compliance by implementing features such as secure authentication, encryption, and secure storage of user data.

Q: What is the role of the web-based admin panel in this milestone? A: The web-based admin panel will allow administrators to manage the system, including user accounts, email settings, and system configuration.

Q: How will the system handle spam and junk emails? A: The system will handle spam and junk emails by implementing spam filters and other anti-spam measures to ensure that users receive only legitimate emails.

Q: What is the expected outcome of this milestone? A: The expected outcome of this milestone is a fully functional, self-hostable backend email system, Email 1.0, that meets the requirements and expectations of users and stakeholders.

Conclusion

In this Q&A article, we have addressed some of the key questions and concerns related to the development of the Email 1.0 backend system. We have outlined the primary objectives, key features, and expected outcomes of this milestone, and have also discussed the role of the existing open-source email client and the benefits of deploying the system via Docker. We hope that this article has provided valuable information and insights to readers.