Webmail: IMP from the Horde.org project

*sheila* · 11-10-2001, 08:00 PM

So, has anyone tried out this program:
http://horde.org/imp/

It looks pretty nice. I heard about it, because Spamcop.net is upgrading some of their services, and is apparently going to be using this open-source PHP mail program.

Right now I have the MailReader.com program installed on my account, so that I can access my mail when I'm not at home. But this IMP looks pretty interesting. They have a demo online where you can try accessing one of your current accounts, so I tried it out.

Thoughts? Opinions?

**Arthur** · 11-12-2001, 05:27 AM

Sheila, I have taken a look at IMP (and Horde), but I don't think it's gonna work here. One of the requirements for IMP: -An IMAP server to connect to, although it does say that it handles POP3, but I guess it uses the IMAP module for that.
Requirements for Horde, which is needed to run IMP: a whole lot of PHP extensions not available here; IMAP, LDAP, gettext, mcal, mm, FTP. And also a bunch of other external programs.
Maybe there's a way around some of the requirements, but it certainly isn't a plug-and-play program.

*manish* · 11-12-2001, 09:12 AM

One of my friends has installed the entire Horde project on his server. Let me tell you that it is one of the coolest packages when all the features work together. From what I remember it was very painful to set up though.

From their FAQs, I saw that there is another problem. For optimal performance and complete functionality you need to use a database. Arthur, I believe IMP can be used with POP3. I think the code is there in the IMAP module. That's why you need to compile the IMAP libraries. My friend configured it so that I could log into my Futurequest account. Here's a good link:
http://www.horde.org/faq/admin/prereq/index.php

Another problem I thought was: According to http://www.horde.org/faq/admin/config/index.php it does not support mbox format mailboxes. Although I don't know what kind of an impact it would have on the install....

Manish

roger · 11-12-2001, 01:20 PM

I wrote my own; not sure how it compares to the others yet.
The source is available if you want to put it on your own web.
Let me know what you think.

http://www.proproject.com/mail

Roger

Tibbits · 11-12-2001, 04:37 PM

IMP will connect to a POP server, but you still need to compile PHP with IMAP support and the UW c-client libraries.

*sheila* · 11-12-2001, 05:16 PM

OKay, well thanks for the responses.
I tried out the IMP demo that they have on their site, and it is pretty nice. I figured, PHP is better for the servers than Perl cgi. And I think the interface is a little nicer, with more advanced features than MailReader.com. So I'd thought I might try an "upgrade" the mail client on my site over Xmas break. (Hmmm, Christmas...I wonder what FQ has planned ??? Maybe I won't NEED to put up my own webmail client ???)

Anyhow, the IMP site, when you look at system requirements, makes it sound like you don't need very many unusual modules. And the client does support POP protocol. But what I'm reading here, is that there are certain support options that need to be compiled into the PHP in order to run IMP, and we just don't have that here at FutureQuest.

Roger, I've been thinking of writing my own mail client, too. (Christmas vacation project?) I know it would be easy for me in Python, but I thought maybe I should give PHP another whirl. Hmm.

In any case, I checked out your webmail client, and it's pretty nice. Maybe not as full featured, but looks like it "gets the job done". I would be interested in seeing the source. Would you send it to me? Or is there someplace I can download it?

Thanks,

roger · 11-12-2001, 05:21 PM

I should add that the one I wrote (I guess I'll call it popweb) does not require IMAP support in PHP. It does require PHPLib, though. (Nothing to compile in PHPLib.)

http://www.proproject.com/mail

Roger

*sheila* · 11-12-2001, 08:50 PM

Hah, hah. Roger, I was just about to write you a note, about how we can't see the code at that page, since it's been parsed by the server already. But, I went back to check one more time, and saw the link to the code down there at the bottom of the page.

Thanks!

**Arthur** · 11-13-2001, 04:24 AM

Quote:

when you look at system requirements, makes it sound like you don't need very many unusual modules

IMP itself doesn't need very much, however it needs the Horde library to run and that does have a lot of requirements.

And about that Xmas present, I think Justin and Terra are working on something else, not webmail. Although there may be more than one present???

*Jeff* · 11-13-2001, 04:46 AM

Just looked at the demo for http://www.proproject.com/mail - Very nice