My next hack...
 

...will be a la HiveMail: a mail system fully integrated into vB. Alas it won't be free but it will be much cheaper than HiveMail (of course some features will be sacrificed). Will use vB's template system, user management, the whole works. :)

edit: the hack will require PHP to be compiled with the --with-imap argument. Please upload this script to your site and run it, and then copy and paste the output here. (It determines if you have the imap extension loaded and tries to load it if you don't.)

You're going to find out there are a lot of people who don't have that on the server. Does HiveMail use that?

Checking for imap library...success! ;)

I don't believe so but theoretically the imap library makes working with mail pretty easy.

Is there a way to have users be able to use it without having imap installed? You might get more registrations doing it that way.

Whichever way HiveMail does it. Either way I intend to use the imap extension, most hosts should have no objections to compiling it in for their clients should they request it, anyway...

Good luck filburt ;) You have a big job on your hands :p

- miSt

cant wait :D if its cheap i,ll but it as im not too sure about hivemail and its abilitys to be skinned at present

HiveMail has a full template system. From what I've seen it appears to be pretty much based on vB concepts; I for one won't buy it for two reasons: (1) it's too expensive for what you seemingly get, and (2) the numerous spelling errors everywhere give it an unprofessional look and therefore make me question other things like security and performance.

(Psst...I'll build you an import script for a free copy of your new mail system, filb. :) )

I volunteer to be a beta-tester. ;)

Let me write it first ;)

Ditto @ Erwin ;)

Sounds good. Just make sure it works on ENSIM servers.

When ready I will allow beta testers. However to avoid leaked versions I'll still charge; you'll get an upgrade for the full version free and the beta won't be full price.

Anyway, it begins >:)

As long as you don't sell it here. ;)

Blah im not paying - i have hivemail ;)

Things are progressing very nicely. I expect a private beta within a couple weeks or so. When the time comes I'll post in Service Requests (because it will involve a fee for security reasons).

I agree about Hivemail's spelling issues... it always make me cringe when I see stuff like that. But price is another matter. I've been looking at other email server options for a while. Hivemail is a close comparison to most and is far cheaper.

However, not to be negative about your quest, I can't help but wonder why you're going down a road that someone else is already on. Hivemail has just begun vBulletin integration and will probably improve it with every version. Hivemail is already a few steps ahead of you and it'll take a lot to catch up. By then, Hivemail may cover all the concerns that you have about their software.

Maybe go into a different direction with vBulletin... possibly a truely integrated chat room, classifieds section, or auctions? Somewhere someone doesn't already have hold on.

Hivemail had an 80% off sale last week that seemed more desperate then planned. Maybe there's not as large of a target audience? Would there be room for two?

Anyway, I've installed more of your hacks then I can count so I certainly won't question your abilities.:) Like I said, I don't want to be negative, but I'm just curious.

Good luck! I'll definitely be watching. :cool:

I'm not looking to compete with HiveMail. My system will have far fewer features. It's instead designed to be secure, extremely tightly integrated, and simple.

I NEVER WANT TO SEE THIS AGAIN: :mad: :angry:

The hardest part is over (mail server communication). A beta is pretty much guaranteed now.

UPDATE

The system seems to be working flawlessly at WDF after working out the most frustrating PHP bug that I've encountered to date. The next beta will include some new features...there's a thread in the Announcements forum at WDF as to what those will be.

It's pretty cool just playing around with it overall, too :D

POP3 access too?

Explain.

Members that have signed up for an email address on your site, using your email hack, can access via the site, and via a POP3 client, such as OutLook?

Hivemail is just web access. How will your hack integrate into the forums? Username and password?

No, it will not be accessable via POP clients, only the web interface.

It's integrated by user accounts, user options, and pretty much every single function of vB.