openchange's Journal: MAPI library under Linux

The OpenChange MAPI library aims to provide interoperability with an Open Source implementation of Microsoft Exchange protocols under UNIX/Linux. The current implementation offers a client-side library which can be used in existing messaging clients and offer native compatibility with Exchange Servers up to 2003. OpenChange differs from existing groupwares and Exchange alternatives due to the fact it doesn't require any additional plugin or specific configuration and directly work with Outlook and Exchange using Microsoft Exchange protocols and MAPI. Furthermore, the project focuses both on the client and server side design and implementation.

MAPI stands for Messaging Application Programming Interface and is used in the Microsoft Exchange Server groupware server. This solution works with Outlook and provides collaborative features such as a messaging server, shared calendars, contact databases, public folders and tasks.

The libmapi 0.2 release named MAILOOK provides a documented API, sample code and stand-alone applications able to perform operations on emails: administrate OpenChange MAPI profiles; fetch, send and delete emails; send and fetch multiple attachments; set To, Cc, Bcc recipients. The team is already working on additional support such as calendar or contacts and already have working proof of concepts:

• http://www.openchange.org/images/openchange/libmapi/libmapi-fetch-appointment.png
• http://www.openchange.org/images/openchange/libmapi/libmapi-fetch-contacts.png

An online demonstration of the MAILOOK release and its testing tools is available at the following URL: http://www.openchange.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid=73

Considering the very limited set of Exchange environments where we have been able to test libmapi, this version should be considered alpha. Moving from alpha to stable code is quite a long process and the more beta testers and bugs notifications we will have, the most reliable and scalable libmapi will be in a near future.

Beta testers interested in the OpenChange Gnome Evolution plugin technical preview can also fetch it from our repository:
svn co https://svn.openchange.org/eplugin/

Related links:

• svn co https://svn.openchange.org/openchange/branches/MAILOOK
• http://www.openchange.org/
• http://wiki.openchange.org/
• http://websvn.openchange.org/