Is Brimir still being developed?

No, Brimir is archived and no longer maintained by Ivaldi, so there are no official updates or support. Users must rely on the existing codebase or fork it for customizations.

How to set up Brimir with Mailgun for incoming emails?

Add your server IP to Mailgun's whitelist, set the private API key in secrets.yml, and create a route pointing to the Brimir hook URL with your mail_key. Full steps are in the README's Mailgun section.

Brimir vs FreshDesk: which is better for small teams?

Brimir is a self-hosted, cost-free option for teams with technical skills, but it lacks active support and advanced features. FreshDesk is a SaaS solution with ease of use and regular updates, better for teams needing reliability.

Can Brimir assign tickets to groups of users?

No, group ticket assignment is only a requested feature and not implemented. Tickets are assigned to individual agents, which may limit collaboration in larger teams.

How to add a custom language to Brimir?

Copy the English locale file as a template, translate the keys, and add the locale to config.i18n.available_locales in application.rb. The README provides detailed instructions under Localization.

Does Brimir support API for ticket creation?

Ticket creation via API is listed as a requested feature but not implemented. Existing API functionality is limited, so you may need to extend the codebase or use workarounds.

Open-Awesome

brimir

AGPL-3.0Ruby0.7.3

A simple, self-hosted email helpdesk system built with Ruby on Rails for handling customer support requests.

Visit Website GitHub

1.4k stars292 forks0 contributors

What is brimir?

Brimir is an open-source email helpdesk system built with Ruby on Rails that allows teams to handle customer support requests via incoming emails. It converts emails into tickets, enabling support agents to manage, assign, and respond to issues efficiently. The system is designed for self-hosting, providing full control over data and customization.

Target Audience

Small to medium-sized teams or organizations needing an internal, self-hosted helpdesk solution for customer support, particularly those already using Ruby on Rails or preferring open-source tools.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Brimir for its simplicity, self-hosting capability, and flexibility—offering a customizable, privacy-focused alternative to commercial helpdesk platforms without recurring costs.

Overview

Email helpdesk built using Ruby on Rails and Zurb Foundation

Use Cases

Best For

Teams wanting a self-hosted helpdesk to maintain data privacy and control.
Ruby on Rails developers seeking an email-based support system they can extend.
Small businesses needing a straightforward, no-frills ticketing solution.
Organizations requiring LDAP integration for user authentication.
Support teams that handle customer inquiries primarily via email.
Projects needing a customizable, open-source alternative to FreshDesk or Zoho Desk.

Not Ideal For

Teams requiring actively maintained software with regular updates and security patches.
Organizations lacking in-house Ruby on Rails expertise for deployment and ongoing maintenance.
Projects needing advanced features like social media integration or a built-in knowledge base.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Self-Hosted Control

Brimir is open-source and can be self-hosted, giving teams full data privacy and customization without recurring costs, as highlighted in its AGPLv3 licensing and deployment instructions.

LDAP Authentication

Supports LDAP integration out of the box, allowing seamless user authentication with existing directory services, which is configured via config/ldap.yml.

Email-Centric Workflow

Converts incoming emails into tickets via hooks with MTAs like Mailgun or aliases, ideal for support teams handling email-based inquiries, as detailed in the Incoming email section.

Multi-Language Support

Includes localization for various languages with easy addition of new locales, enhancing usability for global teams, as described under the Localization section.

Cons

Archived and Unmaintained

The repository is archived by Ivaldi, meaning no official updates, bug fixes, or security patches are provided, posing a significant risk for production environments.

Complex Email Setup

Configuring incoming email requires manual MTA integration or third-party services like Mailgun, involving multiple error-prone steps such as generating mail keys and setting up routes.

Missing Requested Features

Many features like group ticket assignment, knowledge base, and social media integration are only listed as requests and not implemented, relying on community contributions that may never materialize.

Open Source Alternative To

brimir is an open-source alternative to the following products:

Freshdesk

Freshdesk is a customer support software and helpdesk solution that enables businesses to manage customer inquiries through email, phone, chat, social media, and self-service portals.

Zoho Desk

Zoho Desk is a cloud-based customer service software that helps businesses manage customer support tickets, automate workflows, and provide multichannel support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

maybe

The personal finance app for everyone

Stars54,155

Forks5,600

Last commit10 months ago

mastodon

Your self-hosted, globally interconnected microblogging community

A platform for community discussion. Free, open, simple.

Stars47,242

Forks8,933

Last commit19 hours ago

chatwoot

Open-source live-chat, email support, omni-channel desk. An alternative to Intercom, Zendesk, Salesforce Service Cloud etc. 🔥💬

Stars30,401

Forks7,507