mailtrain/README.md

# Mailtrain

[Mailtrain](http://mailtrain.org) is a self hosted newsletter application built on Node.js (v5+) and MySQL (v5.5+ or MariaDB).

![](http://mailtrain.org/mailtrain.png)

## Features

Mailtrain supports subscriber list management, list segmentation, custom fields, email templates, large CSV list import files, etc.

Subscribe to Mailtrain Newsletter [here](http://mailtrain.org/subscription/EysIv8sAx) (uses Mailtrain obviously)

## Cons

  * Alpha-grade software. Might or might not work as expected
  * Awful code base, needs refactoring
  * No tests
  * No documentation

## Requirements

  * Nodejs v5+
  * MySQL v5.5 or MariaDB
  * Redis (optional, used for session storage only)

## Installation

  1. Download Mailtrain files using git: `git clone git://github.com/andris9/mailtrain.git` and open Mailtrain folder `cd mailtrain`
  2. Run `npm install` in the Mailtrain folder to install required dependencies
  3. Copy [config/default.toml](config/default.toml) as `config/production.toml` and update MySQL and any other settings in it
  4. Run the server `NODE_ENV=production npm start`
  5. Open [http://localhost:3000/](http://localhost:3000/)
  6. Authenticate as `admin`:`test`
  7. Navigate to [http://localhost:3000/settings](http://localhost:3000/settings) and update service configuration
  8. Navigate to [http://localhost:3000/users/account](http://localhost:3000/users/account) and update user information and password

## Upgrade

  * Replace old files with new ones by running in the Mailtrain folder `git pull origin master`
  * Run `npm install --production` in the Mailtrain folder

## Using environment variables

Some servers expose custom port and hostname options through environment variables. To support these, create a new configuration file `config/local.js`:

```
module.exports = {
    www: {
        port: process.env.OPENSHIFT_NODEJS_PORT,
        host: process.env.OPENSHIFT_NODEJS_IP
    }
};
```

Mailtrain uses [node-config](https://github.com/lorenwest/node-config) for configuration management and thus the config files are loaded in the following order:

  1. default.toml
  2. {NODE_ENV}.toml (eg. development.toml or production.toml)
  3. local.js

### Running behind Nginx proxy

Edit [mailtrain.nginx](setup/mailtrain.nginx) (update `server_name` directive) and copy it to `/etc/nginx/sites-enabled`

### Running as an Upstart service in Ubuntu 14.04

Edit [mailtrain.conf](setup/mailtrain.conf) (update application folder) and copy it to `/etc/init`

## Nitrous Quickstart

You can quickly create a free development environment for this Mailtrain project in the cloud on www.nitrous.io:

<a href="https://www.nitrous.io/quickstart">
  <img src="https://nitrous-image-icons.s3.amazonaws.com/quickstart.png" alt="Nitrous Quickstart" width=142 height=34>
</a>

In the IDE, start Mailtrain via `Run > Start Mailtrain` and access your site via `Preview > 3000`.

## Bounce handling

Mailtrain uses webhooks integration to detect bounces and spam complaints. Currently supported webhooks are:

  * **AWS SES** – create a SNS topic for complaints and bounces and use `http://domain/webhooks/aws` as the subscriber URL for these topics
  * **SparkPost** – use `http://domain/webhooks/sparkpost` as the webhook URL for bounces and complaints ([instructions](https://github.com/andris9/mailtrain/wiki/Setting-up-Webhooks-for-SparkPost))
  * **SendGrid** – use `http://domain/webhooks/sendgrid` as the webhook URL for bounces and complaints ([instructions](https://github.com/andris9/mailtrain/wiki/Setting-up-Webhooks-for-SendGrid))
  * **Mailgun** – use `http://domain/webhooks/mailgun` as the webhook URL for bounces and complaints ([instructions](https://github.com/andris9/mailtrain/wiki/Setting-up-Webhooks-for-Mailgun))

Additionally Mailtrain (v1.1+) is able to use VERP-based bounce handling. This would require to have a compatible SMTP relay (the services mentioned above strip out or block VERP addresses in the SMTP envelope) and you also need to set up special MX DNS name that points to your Mailtrain installation server.

## License

**GPL-V3.0**