How to deploy Mailer as a serverless function?

The README provides deploy buttons for platforms like Vercel and Heroku; you need to set environment variables for SMTP configuration and other settings, and it can run as a standalone micro-service with minimal setup.

Mailer vs FormSpree: which is better for a static site?

Mailer is self-hosted and open-source, offering full control and no usage limits, while FormSpree is a managed service with easier setup but potential costs. Choose Mailer for customization, FormSpree for convenience.

Can Mailer handle file uploads from contact forms?

The README does not explicitly mention file upload support; it primarily processes form data for email, so you might need to extend the code or use additional services for file handling.

How do I integrate Google ReCaptcha with Mailer?

Configure ReCaptcha v2 by setting the necessary environment variables and ensuring your form includes the ReCaptcha field; the README notes it's built-in for spam protection.

Is Mailer suitable for high-traffic websites?

Mailer is lightweight and can be scaled with serverless deployments, but performance depends on your SMTP server and hosting; for very high traffic, monitor resources and consider load testing.

Does Mailer support email templates or HTML emails?

The README focuses on basic email sending; for templates, you may need to modify the code or check if the API allows custom email content through form parameters.

Open-Awesome

Mailer

AGPL-3.0Python

A self-hostable micro-service that adds contact form functionality to static websites via a simple API.

Visit Website GitHub

150 stars8 forks0 contributors

What is Mailer?

Mailer is a micro-service that enables static websites to send emails from contact forms without requiring a traditional backend. It acts as a simple API endpoint that processes form submissions and forwards them via SMTP, solving the common problem of adding interactive forms to static sites.

Target Audience

Developers building static websites, JAMStack applications, or any project needing a lightweight, self-hosted contact form solution.

Value Proposition

It offers a free, open-source alternative to commercial form services, with full control over deployment, no usage limits, and features like spam protection and PGP encryption.

Overview

Dead-simple mailer micro-service for static websites

Use Cases

Best For

Adding contact forms to static sites built with Hugo, Jekyll, or Gatsby
JAMStack applications needing a simple email backend
Projects requiring a self-hosted alternative to FormSpree
Developers who want full control over email delivery and spam filtering
Sites needing PGP-encrypted contact form submissions
Teams deploying on their own infrastructure with Docker or serverless platforms

Not Ideal For

Projects requiring complex form processing with database storage or multi-step workflows
Teams without SMTP server access or preferring fully-managed, no-configuration services
Applications needing real-time webhook notifications or integrations beyond email output
Use cases where copyleft licenses like AGPLv3 are prohibitive for commercial deployment

Pros & Cons

Pros

Flexible Deployment Options

Supports Docker and serverless functions, with direct deployment buttons for Vercel and Heroku in the README, making it adaptable to various hosting environments.

Strong Spam Mitigation

Includes honeypot field and Google ReCaptcha v2 validation, specifically designed to filter out spam bots as highlighted in the features list.

Enhanced Security Features

Offers PGP/MIME encryption for secure email transmission and configurable CORS domain validation, providing privacy and access control for static sites.

Comprehensive API Documentation

Built-in OpenAPI documentation with Swagger and ReDoc interfaces, allowing easy exploration and integration of the API endpoints.

Cons

SMTP Setup Complexity

Requires users to configure and manage their own SMTP server or service, adding an initial setup hurdle compared to all-in-one solutions.

Self-Hosting Maintenance Burden

As a self-hosted micro-service, it necessitates ongoing updates, security patches, and infrastructure management, which can be time-consuming.

Limited Output Channels

Focuses solely on email sending without built-in support for other actions like data storage or webhooks, limiting flexibility for advanced use cases.

Open Source Alternative To

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

FormSpree

Formspree is a form backend service that handles form submissions from static websites and sends them to your email.

Frequently Asked Questions

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