Add RESTful API Feature to IMAP Service

[sepehr-akbarzadeh]

Overview:
The current functionality of the IMAP service focuses on handling incoming emails efficiently. To enhance its capabilities and provide greater flexibility, I propose the addition of a RESTful API feature. This new feature will enable users to interact with the IMAP service programmatically, allowing for operations such as retrieving emails, managing folders, and sending messages through standardized HTTP methods.

Proposed Features:

1. Email Retrieval:

   • Endpoint to list all emails in a mailbox.
   • Endpoint to retrieve a specific email by its ID.
   • Support for querying emails based on criteria (e.g., unread, sender, date range).

2. Folder Management:

   • Endpoint to list all folders in the mailbox.
   • Endpoint to create, rename, or delete folders.
   • Endpoint to move emails between folders.

3. Sending Emails:

   • Endpoint to send a new email.
   • Support for attachments.

4. Authentication:

   • Implementation of token-based authentication (e.g., JWT) to secure API endpoints.

5. Documentation:

   • Comprehensive API documentation using tools like Swagger or Redoc.
   • Example requests and responses for all endpoints.

Benefits:

• Enhances the flexibility of the IMAP service by allowing programmatic access.
• Facilitates integration with other applications and services.
• Provides a modern, standardized way of interacting with email data.

Potential Challenges:

• Ensuring the security of the API endpoints.
• Handling rate limiting and throttling to prevent abuse.
• Maintaining compatibility with existing IMAP service features.

Additional Context:
Adding a RESTful API will open up numerous possibilities for automation and integration, making the IMAP service more versatile and user-friendly. This feature could be particularly useful for developers looking to build custom email clients, integrate email functionality into other applications, or automate email processing workflows.

Tasks:

1. Design the API endpoints and data models.
2. Implement the endpoints and corresponding logic.
3. Set up authentication and security measures.
4. Write tests to ensure functionality and reliability.
5. Create documentation for the API.