Add Feature to Extract Reply-To and References Headers into Model Fields with Parent Relation

[sepehr-akbarzadeh]

Overview:
The current implementation of the mailbox client processes and stores emails but does not extract and store the Reply-To and References headers into separate model fields. To improve email thread management and enhance the relational capabilities of email models, we propose adding a feature to extract these headers and save them in model fields with a parent-child relationship.

Proposed Features:

1. Extract Reply-To Header:

   • Add a field in the email model to store the Reply-To address.
   • Ensure that the Reply-To field is populated when an email is received or processed.
   • Provide a mechanism to link the Reply-To address to the corresponding parent email if applicable.

2. Extract References Header:

   • Add a field in the email model to store the References header, which typically contains a list of message IDs.
   • Parse and store the References header to facilitate threading of related messages.
   • Establish a parent-child relationship between emails based on the references.

3. Parent-Child Relationship:

   • Implement a relational model to link emails with their parent and child messages.
   • Ensure that the relationship is correctly established based on the References and Reply-To headers.
   • Provide methods to retrieve and traverse email threads and chains.

4. Database Schema Changes:

   • Update the database schema to include new fields for Reply-To and References.
   • Create and run migration scripts to apply schema changes.

Benefits:

• Enhances email threading and conversation tracking by linking related messages.
• Provides better context for email replies and references.
• Improves the ability to manage and navigate email threads within the application.

Potential Challenges:

• Handling and parsing complex References headers with multiple message IDs.
• Ensuring the accuracy of parent-child relationships and threading.
• Updating existing data models and database schemas without causing disruptions.

Additional Context:
The addition of Reply-To and References fields will significantly enhance the functionality and relational capabilities of the email models, providing better support for email threading and conversation management. This feature is essential for applications that need to track and display email threads accurately.

Tasks:

1. Modify the email model to include Reply-To and References fields.
2. Implement logic to extract and store these headers.
3. Update the database schema and run migrations.
4. Develop the parent-child relationship logic and ensure proper threading.
5. Adjust the user interface as needed to reflect the new features.
6. Update documentation and provide examples.