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Cypht

Cypht — Lightweight Modular Webmail

General Information
Cypht is an open-source webmail project that takes a different approach than most mail clients. Instead of trying to be a full collaboration suite, it’s a modular aggregator. With Cypht, users don’t just read one inbox — they can plug in multiple IMAP accounts, Gmail, Outlook.com, even RSS feeds, and view everything through a single interface.

It appeals to admins and power users who want a lightweight web client that’s easy to host and d

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Cypht — Lightweight Modular Webmail

It appeals to admins and power users who want a lightweight web client that’s easy to host and doesn’t lock them into a provider. The interface is delibera…

How It Works
Cypht runs on a standard Linux stack (PHP + web server + database). Once installed, it connects to external mail servers via IMAP. Users log in through the web UI and can add multiple accounts, which show up side-by-side in the dashboard. Messages are fetched on demand — the server doesn’t permanently store mail, it just acts as a proxy between clients and backends.

Because of its modular design, Cypht can integrate other data sources too: RSS, LDAP directories, or custom modules written in PHP. For admins, deployment is closer to setting up a CMS than running a full mail server.

Functions
Feature | In practice
—|—
Webmail client | Browser interface, lightweight and responsive
Multi-account | Aggregate IMAP accounts (Gmail, Outlook.com, self-hosted mail)
Modular system | Extend with RSS feeds, contacts, or custom PHP modules
Security | TLS/SSL support, authentication via IMAP or LDAP
Storage model | No full mailbox store; pulls mail from existing servers
Platforms | Runs on Linux servers with Apache/Nginx + PHP
Licensing | Open source (GPL)

Installation Guide
1. Prepare a Linux server with Apache/Nginx, PHP, and MySQL/MariaDB.
2. Download Cypht from the official Git repository.
3. Run the installer script to set up database and config files.
4. Point the web server’s document root to the Cypht directory.
5. Log in with the initial admin account and add IMAP backends.
6. Deploy for users by creating accounts or linking to LDAP.

Setup feels more like rolling out WordPress than provisioning a heavy groupware suite.

Everyday Use
– Individuals and small teams use Cypht as a unified inbox across Gmail, work IMAP, and personal accounts.
– Admins host it internally to give staff a fast, no-nonsense mail portal.
– Lightweight deployments (labs, VMs, small servers) benefit because it consumes far fewer resources than Zimbra or Roundcube.

For everyday users, it feels like a clean dashboard: mail on the left, message preview in the center, accounts switched with tabs.

Limitations
Cypht is intentionally minimal. It doesn’t offer calendars, chat, or deep collaboration features. Compared to Crossbox or Zimbra, it’s barebones. It also requires some comfort with Linux/PHP for updates and module management.

Notes from the Field
Admins often describe Cypht as “the webmail that doesn’t get in the way.” It shines when the goal is just reading and sending mail from multiple accounts, without pushing users into a new ecosystem. The trade-off is clear: minimal features, but fast, reliable, and simple to run.

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