Emailik

Emailik is a term used to describe an open-standard framework for managing email data across devices and services. It envisions a cohesive stack that includes a transport protocol, a local data store, a search/indexing component, and user-facing clients. The aim is to improve interoperability between different mail back-ends while providing options for privacy-conscious users to control storage and encryption choices.

Origin and development: Emailik originated in a community-driven effort in the mid-2010s to address fragmentation in email clients and servers. The initial specification was released in 2017, with subsequent revisions governed by a volunteer council. The project emphasizes modularity, allowing parts of the stack to be swapped without breaking compatibility.

Architecture and features: The core stack supports cross-platform clients that communicate with compliant back-ends using the Emailik Protocol (EKP). Emailik employs a change-log-based synchronization to minimize bandwidth and supports local-first storage with optional cloud backup. Features include MIME handling, attachments, threading, powerful search, and an extensible plugin system for calendars, contacts, and filters. Encryption options cover PGP/S/MIME and, where configured, end-to-end encryption for message bodies.

Reception and status: Emailik has attracted interest from privacy-focused projects and several small-scale implementations, but it has not achieved broad adoption among major providers. Implementations vary in completeness and licensing, with most community-driven projects released under permissive terms.

See also: Email, IMAP, PGP, S/MIME, open standards.