Report Prepared By Gulzeb Zahid

www.gulzeb7.blogspot.ae
00971558141631
Gulzaib.zahid@gmail.com

Web Based Mail Service Client Project

Report

Table of Contents
1

Project introduction .............................................................................................................................. 2

1.1

Project back ground ...................................................................................................................... 3

1.2

Problem statement ....................................................................................................................... 3

1.3

Project objective ........................................................................................................................... 3

1.4

Extra Advantages .......................................................................................................................... 4

Project deliverables............................................................................................................................... 5
2.1

Research ........................................................................................................................................ 6

2.2

Project plan ................................................................................................................................... 6

2.3

Analysis and design ....................................................................................................................... 6

2.4

Implementation ............................................................................................................................ 7

2.5

Testing ........................................................................................................................................... 7

2.6

Critical evaluation ......................................................................................................................... 7

Research ................................................................................................................................................ 8
3.1

3.1.1

Basic research ....................................................................................................................... 9

3.1.2

Internet ................................................................................................................................. 9

3.2

Research on similar project .......................................................................................................... 9

3.2.1

Round Cube ........................................................................................................................... 9

3.2.2

Mail pile Email client ........................................................................................................... 11

3.3

Research on developing tools ..................................................................................................... 12

3.3.1

PHP ...................................................................................................................................... 12

3.3.2

My SQL ................................................................................................................................ 12

3.4

Research on strategy..................................................................................................................... 9

Research on methodologies ....................................................................................................... 13

3.4.1

Waterfall methodology ....................................................................................................... 13

3.4.2

Prototype methodology ...................................................................................................... 14

3.4.3

Agile methodology .............................................................................................................. 14

References .......................................................................................................................................... 15

Chapter 1
1 Project introduction

1.1 Project back ground

Muscat Company is a construction consultancy multinational company running from 2001 in Sultanate
of Oman. It have many branches and offices inside the country. It is growing fast by leap and bound. Its
staff is using general purpose email clients like yahoo mail or Gmail according to their choice. Many
quotations are invoices are send to their emails while using their personal emails. But now a days
cybercrimes have open a new way of getting information by hacking general used email servers. It is a
construction consultancy company and have important data like quotations and invoices from
Government and other companies, and tender forms so it is most important for this company to keep
these documents safe and no one can hack company data.
Muscat company staff is normally using personal emails to communicate with each other, but due to
cyber crimes are rising more now a days, so it is requirement of company to design and create a secure
and user friendly web based email client for its staff to minimize the cyber threat from ongoing activities
and reduce data damage rate. Muscat company have started its own email system a long ago but it have
some problems and need to replace that email client system with new one which support new
technology.

1.2 Problem statement

Muscat company is multinational company, it have employees of many nationalities. Some of them cant
understand email in English and it is required to change their interface in their own language. It is
difficult to find the specific search if required because no search option in old email client. Managing
new user is difficult in old email client program because when it is started there are very few users, but
now a lot of users are working and need scalable email client for company. It is not possible to configure
company email on mobiles because it is not support mobile protocols. Old email client do not have CC
and BCC option. So when need to send same email to different people then send one by one. Old email
client have no option to broadcast email to a pre-existed group. Old email client have no option of
backup of contact in phone, because it is no mobile supported. And when any mobile from company
official fell down or damaged then all company contacts gone.

1.3 Project objective

Aim of this project is to design a web based email client which have following feature;
Multilingual interface should be designed in multilingual which can help other nationalities persons
to use it with ease. Advanced search option make it easy for users to search any specific document
or email when required. Sending receiving email is basic option which we will provide in company
email client. Manage new users will be much more easy in my software which I will provide with
ease of access and secure database.

Configure user account on its computer or mobile because this software support mobile mail on
android and ios devices. This program is scalable and support a large number of users, it support

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50000 users on computer and mobile support initially then it can be expandable while necessary.
This program support contact back on phone because it is compatible and integrated with Contacts
backup support. Carbon copy and BCC option will be provided in this software because it is most
necessary item in all email client now. Broadcast group email is a new feature which is not available
in old software and I provide this tiny but helpful feature to this software.

1.4 Extra Advantages

Address list
Support calendar organizer
Categories like primary or social
Web admin who can manage users
Authentication
Multi-platform support like Linux or Windows
Manage storage
Drag and drop function for document attachment
Spell check option

Chapter 2
2 Project deliverables

2.1 Research
Research is main important factor in software development life cycle. It describes how to built the
software. First of all understanding the concept of software which is required by the user or
organization. Once concept is clear then developer is going to requirement phase. Its means developer
check what are requirement or problems of users which need to resolve. After that developer analyze
the all information he got from user or internet or any other means to see either these information are
satisfied or need something more to complete the projects. When analysis is done then developer is
design a model of software are show to user to ensure either this software fulfil its requirement or need
some more changes. When it is done then he implement codes and then test the software by all
available means. Then it is handed over to user to verify the software. At the last step developer do its
hosting and maintenance.

2.2 Project plan

Fig 1: Gantt Chart

2.3 Analysis and design

When user provide all requirement which are required to design the software then it is its duty to
analyze all information he have gathered from internet or similar project and check either all
information are enough to design the software model. When he satisfied then he will create a model of

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software and show its presentation to company. If company accept the software presentation and its
pros and cons then he start doing his next step.

2.4 Implementation
At this part developer start making its software. And implement the codes and checking warning or
error and correct and complete the software. Implementation and after testing of software, either
making small parts and join them to check compatibility or black box and white box testing is done in
this step.

2.5 Testing
There are two types of software testing, one is black box testing, and other is white box testing. In black
box testing software is tested by a tester who is unaware of software development process and he just
check either all functions of current software are working properly or not. In white box testing, a well
qualified tester who was involved in software development and know very much about current software
coding, test each function of software throughout all available means before handing over to customer.

2.6 Critical evaluation

This is last step of program which help the software to check and handed over to user which use it and if
find any difficulty then training is also provided to key users. It is the step in which developer describes
the value of software, how it is important to Muscat company to use this software to keep its data
secure which is back bone of business, while transferring these information from one user to another it
should use same server , so it will be safe for company.

Chapter 3
3 Research

3.1 Research on strategy

3.1.1 Basic research
This is the research part of software. In this part I have analyze the requirement of software. I have
made interview from many officials of Muscat company and check their problems while using personal
emails and find out some solutions which can help the Muscat company to solve their problems with
ease of access.

3.1.2 Internet
I have checked internet many web mail clients , some are free and some are paid but I have realized that
they are not fulfil Muscat company requirements, so some clients offers some good features and have
some security or user interface issues. But I have done these features to make the company email
provision with ease of access and full secure.

3.2 Research on similar project

I have checked some email clients and take some important features from them to make this software
easy and provide full feature support. Some projects are given below;

3.2.1 Round Cube

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Fig 2: Round cube mail

This is open source software designed by Mr. flint, and hosted by Sourceforge website. It have many
advantages which are given below. This program help the users to send email and receive email. It is
potential-secure web based email program and attachment is support in this program. Problem while
using this software is that all company data is (while emailing) is save on round cube and it can be
hacked and it free source and can be data hacked.

3.2.1.1

Advantage:
It is available for world wide in 70 languages.
It is designed in PHP and light weight webmail client.
Its database is My SQL and lightweight database and offer general database support.
It support spell check option.
Attachment is supported.

3.2.1.2 Disadvantage:
It does not support more then 5 mb attachment file.
It does not support mobile application.
It does not support contact backup

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3.2.2 Mail pile Email client

Fig 3: Mail pile web client

It is designed by Bjarni ennarson and it is free of cost and it have different types of mail options which
make it unique from its current competitive mailing software, it also provide branding option as
companies can use their logo and use as their company mailing software. It offers some unique features
which are given below;

3.2.2.1 Advantage:

It support encrypted email.

Tags help to search the email easily and this function is supported by mail pile.
Very good feature of mail pile is spam detection. And spam mail is going to spam mail folder.
Support IMAP and SMTP protocols which are generally all web mail companies are using.

3.2.2.2 Disadvantages:

Spell check option is not available.

Calendar not supported in this mail.
Mobile app not supported.
Group mail option not available.

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3.3 Research on developing tools

This program is designed in PHP languages and My SQL database and their unique features are given
below;

3.3.1 PHP

It is most easiest scripting ever as compared to other languages like C or C++.

It is mostly used now by developers and easily find its support on web forums and blogs.
It support all operating system normally used now a days, like windows or Linux.
It is free of cost.
It support a lot of users scalability, so it is good in this software development.
It is lightweight and have good speed in user interface.
It is widely used application and have full support on websites, if developer feel difficulty in any
process.
Banks, hospitals, and other Government organizations use this languages most.
Large number of frameworks available by its supporting websites.
It is object oriented programming language.

3.3.2 My SQL

It is open source free software, it reduce price for software development.

It is compatible with all operating systems available in market now.
It is very secure and provide full encryption option to its users.
It support all modern languages used to develop the software on web or application.
It allow rock back transactions its means data can be recovered when lost.
It support scheduled backup option.
Very low disk storage need for this database
Its manuals are learning videos easily available on internet
It is robust and myISAM provide best performance
It is best suitable database with PHP
[1]

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3.4 Research on methodologies

3.4.1 Waterfall methodology
This is basic methodology used for designing the software and used most of software developers. When
all requirements from clients are clear and changes chances are rare then this methodology is used. It is
good for programs which also need documentation to make user manuals and this program start with
gathering requirements from user then analyses these information, then design a model to represent
the customers then making a software after test the software and handed over to customer to use and
if any problem during use, it can be used in maintenance. It is called waterfall methodology because its
steps cannot revert back once finishes. [2]

3.4.1.1 Stages:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

Requirement: in this stage developer gather information about software requirement from
customer
Analysis: in this phase developer analyze the information getting from client.
Design: developer present a model by presentation to client and start write codes
Implementation: developer make the codes into shape
Test and Verification: software tested and verified by tester before handling to customers
Critical evaluation: software handed to customer for use.

3.4.1.2 Advantages:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

All stages are well documented.

Long life program developing methodology.
Old and mostly used methodology.

3.4.1.3 Disadvantages:
i.
ii.
iii.

It is expensive methodology.
It is more time consuming methodology.
Repeat all steps while need minimum changes.

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3.4.2 Prototype methodology

This methodology is used when customer changes in software requirement are applicable in daily basis.
Or customer is not making decision about model, developer design a software model and then show to
customer when he agree then developer start work. And user involvement is most necessary in this
methodology and it is cost effective methodology.

3.4.2.1 Stages:

Fig 4: Prototyping methodology

It is fastest software development methodology. In this methodology, basic information are gattering
from client and then design a rough model of software then show him a quick model and then customer
tells him about yes or no then developer again refine then prototype and make a prototype and ask
customer about feed back, this process is continue until customer satisfy. [3]

3.4.2.2 Advantages:
i.
ii.
iii.

It is fastest programming methodology.

It is less expensive.
Minor changes not required full repeating process.

3.4.2.3 Disadvantages:
i.
ii.
iii.

It is not long life program developing methodology.

Documentation of process is difficult in this methodology.
Not suitable for complex and large software.

3.4.3 Agile methodology

This methodology is used for large and complicated program designing. That program is split into many
small parts. And each member of team is designing the software part and then combine each part to
check either all parts are integrated with each other and no making any problem while working
together. It is slow and very expensive methodology.[4]

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3.4.3.1 Stages:

Fig 5: Agile methodology

3.4.3.2 Advantages:
i.
ii.
iii.

This is best for complex and large programs.

Long life program development methodology.
Each function checked twice during building software and testing, its means every function work
properly.

3.4.3.3 Disadvantages:
i.
ii.

It is very expensive methodology.

It is more time consuming methodology.[5]

4 References
[1]http://roundcube.net/about/
[2]https://www.mailpile.is/
[3]http://www.webnethosting.net/10-advantages-of-php-over-other-languages/
[4]http://www.howtomysql.net/mysql-advantages.html
[5]http://vigneshpalani.wordpress.com/2010/05/10/advantages-disadvantages-of-mysql/