Question

I am interested in building a standard/basic email application where people can log in check their emails, send email, save emails, create folders, etc., the basic email functions you would find in yahoo mail or gmail. I am not sure where to start. I am familiar with PHP, Mysql, Javascript.

Can an entire email application be build using php, mysql and javascript? If so, is there any documentation, books, websites, etc., that might walk me through how to build this email application?

Also I am wondering if there is any php libraries, extensions, plug-ins, etc., to jump start an email application or any shortcuts to speed up development of this type of application.

Thank you.

Answer 1

You can take a look at these open source project that make exactly what you want (with SMTP and IMAP support). All in PHP

• http://roundcube.net/
• http://www.squirrelmail.org/
• http://www.hastymail.org/

You can browse its source code freely.

There are more projects like this.