twIMAPd – Twitter based IMAP server

This is a hack that creates a simple IMAP server in Python. But instead of
serving mail messages, it pulls in the data from Twitter and formats the status messages as if they were emails.

If you would like to test it without installing it, drop me a line and I’ll send you my dev server info.

Also looking for help. I’m not a python wiz, so if you are and would like to help, please do.

Features

• Read/Unread statuses
• Flagged messages marks as a Favorite
• Threaded messages

Requirements

• Twisted Python
• simplejson: easy_install simplejson
• python-twitter (must install from lates source)
• pysqlite2

Running

• python imapserver.py

Using

I have tested it against Mutt and Thunderbird (couldn’t get Apple’s Mail.app working)

By default the IMAP server will run on port 1143. Simply put that into your mail client and use your Twitter login and password to connect.

Support

Currently it will create 5 folders:

• Inbox – Friends timeline
• Sent – Your timeline
• Directs – All direct messages
• Mentions – All Mentions
• Favorites – All your favorites

TODO

• Better Caching – Timed?
• Create a #hash folder and have it do a search (sort of works)
• Add SSL support
• Create an SMTP server to post messages back to twitter from the client
• Folder Creation – For storing messages
• Better support for other mail clients

Screen Shot

I don’t want to post a bunch of large screenshots here, so I will just link to them.

Inbox with a Favorite

Mentions

#yui search folder