Mail

A full-stack email client interface built using Python, Django, and JavaScript.

🌟 Project Context

This project is the final requirement for Project 3: Mail of Harvard's CS50's Web Programming with Python and JavaScript course. It implements a fully functional front-end for an email client using vanilla JavaScript to interact with a Django-based backend API, demonstrating proficiency in asynchronous programming and DOM manipulation.

✨ Features

The Mail application supports the core functionality expected of an email client, including:

• View Mailboxes: Users can switch between the Inbox, Sent, and Archived mailboxes.
• Compose Email: Users can send new emails, which are instantly displayed in the Sent mailbox upon successful delivery.
• View Email: Clicking on an email transitions to a detailed, single-email view.
• Mark as Read/Unread: Emails are automatically marked as read upon viewing. Users can toggle the read status.
• Archive/Unarchive: Users can move emails between the Inbox and the Archive.
• Reply Functionality: Provides a dedicated button to easily compose a reply, pre-filling fields like recipient, subject, and body.

🛠️ Technology Stack

Category	Technology	Purpose
Backend Framework	Python 3, Django	Provides the web application structure, routing, models (database), and API endpoints.
Frontend Language	JavaScript (ES6+)	Handles all dynamic updates, DOM manipulation, and asynchronous communication (Fetch API).
Styling	HTML5, CSS3, Bootstrap 4	Used for the structural markup and responsive design/styling.
Database	SQLite (Default Django)	Used for persistent storage of user and email data.

🚀 Getting Started

To set up and run the Mail application locally, follow these steps:

Prerequisites

• Python 3.x
• pip (Python package installer)
• git

Installation

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone [https://git@github.com/saidbaraou/mail.git](https://git@github.com/saidbaraou/mail.git)
   cd mail

2. Create and Activate a Virtual Environment:

   python -m venv venv
   # On Windows:
   .\venv\Scripts\activate
   # On macOS/Linux:
   source venv/bin/activate

3. Install Dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

4. Run Migrations:

   python manage.py makemigrations mail
   python manage.py migrate

5. Create a Superuser (Optional, for admin access):

   python manage.py createsuperuser

Running the Application

Start the Django development server:

python manage.py runserver
The application will be available at: http://127.0.0.1:8000/

You can register new users and start sending and receiving emails between them.