Project Description
This project involves building a comprehensive email-sending platform that allows users to create, schedule, and send emails effectively. The platform aims to provide a user-friendly experience for individuals and organizations to manage their email communications efficiently.
The "Build Your Own Email Sender" project aims to develop a scalable and efficient API that allows users to compose emails, manage recipient lists, schedule sends, and track email performance. This API will support various front-end applications, including web and mobile interfaces.
In today's fast-paced digital environment, effective communication is essential. This project will create an API that empowers users to send emails easily while providing analytics to measure engagement. Here’s a detailed look at how users will interact with the platform:
User Registration and Authentication
Sign Up: New users can create an account by providing a username, email, and password. Once registered, they will receive a confirmation email to verify their account.
Login: Registered users can log in using their email and password. For enhanced security, the API will support multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Sign Up: New users can create an account by providing a username, email, and password. Once registered, they will receive a confirmation email to verify their account.
Login: Registered users can log in using their email and password. For enhanced security, the API will support multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Manage Contacts: Users can create and manage contact lists for sending emails to multiple recipients.
Scheduling and Sending Emails
Schedule Email: Users can schedule emails to be sent at a specific date and time.
Send Email: Users can send emails immediately or based on their scheduling preferences.
Tracking and Analytics
Email Tracking: Users can track email delivery status, open rates, and click-through rates.
Reporting: Users can access reports summarizing their email performance metrics. Administrator Features
User Management: Administrators can manage user accounts, including resetting passwords and handling user queries.
System Monitoring: Administrators can monitor system performance and usage statistics to ensure optimal functionality.
Objectives
Allow users to sign up, log in, and manage their accounts.
Enable users to compose, schedule, and send emails.
Provide tracking and reporting features for email performance analytics.
Enable administrators to manage users and monitor system performance effectively.
Functional Requirements User Management
Sign Up: Users can create an account by providing a username, email, and password.
Login: Users can log in using their email and password.
Profile Management: Users can update their profile information.
Email Composition and Management
POST /compose: Users can create a new email.
GET /contacts: Users can retrieve their contact lists.
POST /contacts: Users can add new contacts.
Scheduling and Sending Emails
POST /schedule: Users can schedule an email to be sent at a later time.
POST /send: Users can send an email immediately.
Tracking and Analytics
GET /tracking/{id}: Users can retrieve tracking information for a specific email.
GET /reports: Users can access performance reports for their emails. Non-Functional RequirementsScalability: The API should handle a growing number of users and email sending requests.
Performance: The API should have a fast response time and handle concurrent requests efficiently.
Security: Implement authentication and authorization mechanisms to protect user data.
Reliability: The API should be highly available and handle failures gracefully.
Usability: The API should be easy to use and well-documented.
Use Cases
User Sign Up and Login: New users sign up, and existing users log in.
Compose and Send Emails: Users compose and send emails immediately or on a schedule.
Manage Contacts: Users manage their email contact lists.Track Email Performance: Users track and report on their email engagement metrics.
User Stories
As a user, I want to sign up for an account so that I can send emails.
As a user, I want to log in to my account to manage my email communications.
As a user, I want to compose and send emails easily so that I can communicate effectively.
As a user, I want to schedule emails for later sending to manage my time better.
As a user, I want to track the performance of my emails so that I can improve my communication strategy.
As an administrator, I want to manage user accounts to ensure proper access and usage.
Technical Requirements
Programming Language: Choose an appropriate backend language (e.g., Node.js, Python, Ruby).
Database: Use a database to store user and email data (e.g., PostgreSQL, MongoDB).
Email Sending Service: Integrate with an email sending service (e.g., SendGrid, Amazon SES).
API Documentation: Use Swagger or similar tools for API documentation.
API Endpoints User Management
POST /signup: Register a new user.
POST /login: Authenticate a user.
GET /profile: Get user profile details.
PUT /profile: Update user profile.
Email Composition and Management
POST /compose: Create a new email.
GET /contacts: Retrieve a list of contacts.
POST /contacts: Add a new contact.
Scheduling and Sending Emails
POST /schedule: Schedule an email for later sending.
POST /send: Send an email immediately. Tracking and Analytics
GET /tracking/{id}: Retrieve tracking information for an email.
GET /reports: Access performance reports for sent emails.
Security
Use HTTPS to encrypt data in transit.
Implement input validation to prevent SQL injection and XSS attacks.
Use strong authentication mechanisms, including MFA.
Performance
Implement caching strategies to improve response times.
Optimize database queries to handle large datasets efficiently.
Documentation
Provide comprehensive API documentation using tools like Swagger. Create user guides and developer documentation to assist with integration and usage.
Glossary
API: Application Programming Interface.
MFA: Multi-Factor Authentication.
SES: Simple Email Service (e.g., Amazon SES).
Appendix
Include any relevant diagrams, data models, and additional references related to the Email Sender project.
