Every engineering team eventually runs into the same frustrating SaaS bill: a legacy SEO platform charging $200 or more per seat every month, primarily used to pull a handful of keyword rankings and backlink audits. Most organizations end up subsidizing dozens of bloated features they never touch. **OpenSEO** approaches this problem from an engineering-first perspective: decouple the expensive data provider layer from the presentation layer, eliminate per-seat enterprise margins, and hand complete data sovereignty back to the developer.

It is an open-source, pay-as-you-go SEO platform that you can self-host locally or deploy to the edge. Crucially, it replaces walled-garden interfaces with direct programmability, baking native Model Context Protocol (MCP) server support directly into the core engine for autonomous AI workflows.

---

## The Architectural Shift: Decoupled Data and Direct Consumption

Traditional enterprise SEO suites bundle proprietary scrapers, indexing pipelines, and monolithic dashboards behind a massive subscription paywall. OpenSEO strips this down to an elegant, opinionated client architecture.

Instead of paying a massive premium for a SaaS middleman, you bring your own raw data engine via a **DataForSEO API key**. You pay only for the exact API queries your team or agents trigger.

```
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|                      OpenSEO Core Engine                    |
|  (Local Docker Container  OR  Cloudflare Workers Free Tier) |
+------------------------------+------------------------------+
                               |
            +------------------+------------------+
            |                                     |
            v                                     v
+-----------------------+             +-----------------------+
|    AI Agent Layer     |             |    Upstream Data      |
|  (Claude Code,        |             |  (DataForSEO API      |
|   OpenClaw, Hermes)   |             |   Raw Consumption)    |
|   via MCP Server      |             |                       |
+-----------------------+             +-----------------------+
```

This model strips away unnecessary enterprise complexity while preserving the core analytics required to run an effective SEO engine.

### Out-of-the-Box Core Capabilities

| Core SEO Workflow | System Functionality |
| :--- | :--- |
| **Keyword Research** | Queries targeted keyword sets to discover high-value content opportunities. |
| **Rank Tracking** | Persistently tracks and logs keyword position movements across search indices. |
| **Competitor Insights** | Reverse-engineers rival organic strategies and domain performance metrics. |
| **Backlinks** | Audits inbound link profiles for your target infrastructure and competitors. |
| **Site Audits** | Crawls target endpoints to surface underlying technical SEO and indexing issues. |
| **AI Visibility** | Serves as the integration layer to surface and parse SEO metrics for AI analysis. |

---

## Native MCP Integration: Turning SEO into an AI-Accessible Subsystem

The critical technical differentiator for OpenSEO is its built-in **Model Context Protocol (MCP)** server. 

Rather than exporting CSVs or wrestling with dashboard permission controls, your AI agents (such as Claude Code, OpenClaw, or Hermes) connect directly to OpenSEO via the MCP server interface. This allows an autonomous agent to query your rank tracking, inspect backlink graphs, and execute technical audits without human intervention.

```
Agent Request (MCP) ---> OpenSEO Core Server ---> DataForSEO Query ---> Structured Context Response
```

### Agent Skills: Modular Automation

OpenSEO implements **Agent Skills**, which are reusable, standardized execution workflows designed to guide an AI agent through multi-step SEO analysis. 

Because OpenSEO is fully open-source, these skills are not black-box scripts. You can inspect the implementation, fork the repository, and write custom Agent Skills that map directly to your organization's internal SEO processes.

---

## Infrastructure and Deployment Topology

OpenSEO provides two primary hosting paths depending on your scaling, network accessibility, and collaboration requirements.

| Hosting Path | Target Environment | Deployment Mechanics & Prereqs |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Simple (Docker)** | Local development, single-operator setups. | Minimal orchestration overhead. Requires a DataForSEO API key. |
| **Advanced (Cloudflare)** | Distributed team access, multi-device usage. | Internet-facing deployment running on the Cloudflare Free tier. Requires a DataForSEO API key. |

For developers who want immediate validation without provisioning infrastructure, a public sandbox is available on the project website. For teams seeking zero-maintenance hosting, a managed instance is available at **$10/month**.

---

## The Economics: BYOK vs. Managed SaaS Surcharges

The economics of OpenSEO run entirely counter to legacy enterprise models. When self-hosting OpenSEO, there are zero seat licenses. You pay DataForSEO directly, strictly per API request.

```
[Self-Hosted Model]
Monthly Cost = (DataForSEO Raw API Consumption) + $0 Infrastructure

[Managed Hosted Plan]
Monthly Cost = $10/month Base Fee + (DataForSEO Raw API Consumption + 28% Surcharge)
```

The managed $10/month plan applies a **28% surcharge** on each DataForSEO request to cover platform maintenance. By choosing to self-host with a BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) setup, your unit economics drop below even the default estimates displayed on the OpenSEO marketing site. You pay wholesale rates for the data you query and zero for idle time.

---

## Getting Started and Contributing

OpenSEO delivers an auditable, transparent, and hackable alternative to closed-source SEO tooling. If you want to deploy an instance, extend the Agent Skills engine, or contribute back to the codebase:

*   **Repository:** [github.com/every-app/open-seo](https://github.com/every-app/open-seo)
*   **Discord:** Join the developer and power-user community.
*   **X (Twitter):** Follow [@bensenescu](https://x.com/bensenescu) for release updates.
*   **Updates:** Subscribe directly at [openseo.so](https://openseo.so).

OpenSEO breaks enterprise SEO lock-in with a self-hosted, pay-as-you-go architecture, native Model Context Protocol (MCP) support for AI agents, and zero seat tax.

Why Are We Still Paying $200/Month for Legacy SEO Suites When We Can Self-Host?

Reggi

Most email testing environments are over-engineered sinkholes. Provisioning a full relational database, queuing subsystem, and heavyweight mail transfer agent just to inspect verification codes or capture ephemeral test payloads is an operational anti-pattern. If the lifecycle of a message is inherently short-lived, your persistence layer should reflect that reality directly.

OpenTrashmail strips out this database bloat. It provides a self-hosted, Python-powered mail engine designed around flat-file serialization, headless automation, and catch-all routing.

## The Zero-Database Ingestion Architecture

The primary design principle behind OpenTrashmail is absolute decoupling from external databases. The system handles inbound SMTP traffic, writes incoming messages directly to disk as JSON files, and serves them via an integrated web interface or programmatic API.

```
                  [ Inbound SMTP Traffic (Port 25) ]
                                  │
                                  ▼
                     ┌─────────────────────────┐
                     │   OpenTrashmail Engine  │
                     │     (Python Daemon)     │
                     └────────────┬────────────┘
                                  │
                  ┌───────────────┴───────────────┐
                  ▼                               ▼
       [ Flat-File Storage ]             [ Real-Time Events ]
   (JSON Documents / Attachments)                 │
                  │                   ┌───────────┴───────────┐
                  ▼                   ▼                       ▼
           [ REST / JSON API ]   [ RSS Feeds ]     [ HMAC Webhooks ]
```

Because it operates as an open catch-all system, there is no requirement to seed accounts ahead of time. Any incoming payload addressed to a configured domain is accepted, parsed, and indexed on the filesystem instantly. This removes the state synchronization problem entirely when spinning up thousands of ephemeral test accounts during end-to-end integration runs.

Beyond standard catch-all duties, this architecture serves cleanly as an email honeypot or as an automated two-factor authentication (2FA) verification solver in CI/CD pipelines.

## API Integration Surface

Headless systems require precise control over ingested messages. OpenTrashmail exposes endpoints to extract raw source data, isolate MIME attachments, or consume fully structured JSON objects.

| Endpoint | Method / Type | Functionality |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| `/rss/[email-address]` | XML Feed | Real-time RSS updates for an isolated inbox. |
| `/api/raw/[email-address]/[id]` | Raw Source | Returns the untouched RFC-compliant email body. |
| `/api/attachment/[email-address]/[id]` | Binary / MIME | Delivers stored file attachments with correct MIME headers. |
| `/api/delete/[email-address]/[id]` | Mutation | Purges an individual message and its linked attachments. |
| `/api/deleteaccount/[email-address]` | Mutation | Drops an entire account along with all associated files. |
| `/json/[email-address]` | JSON Payload | Lists account emails with parsed text and attachment links. When authenticated as admin, returns the global mailbox. |
| `/json/[email-address]/[id]` | JSON Payload | Returns complete message metadata, including HTML and raw formats. |
| `/json/listaccounts` | JSON Payload | Dumps all active addresses that have ingested mail (requires `SHOW_ACCOUNT_LIST=true`). |
| `/api/webhook/get/[email-address]` | Config Query | Inspects current webhook parameters for a targeted address. |
| `/api/webhook/save/[email-address]` | Config Mutation | Persists endpoint, retry, and templating rules for an address. |
| `/api/webhook/delete/[email-address]` | Config Mutation | Unregisters an active webhook integration. |

## Webhook Pipelines with HMAC Verification

Pulling APIs on intervals wastes cycles. OpenTrashmail includes an event-driven webhook pipeline that pushes incoming emails to external listeners the moment they hit the SMTP daemon.

Configurations can be applied globally or mapped to individual addresses. The engine supports variable interpolation to structure outbound JSON payloads before transmission.

```
                    ┌─────────────────────────┐
                    │ Incoming Email Parsed   │
                    └────────────┬────────────┘
                                 │
                   ┌─────────────┴─────────────┐
                   │ Format Template & Headers │
                   │  - {{to}}, {{subject}}    │
                   │  - X-Webhook-Signature    │
                   └─────────────┬─────────────┘
                                 │
                                 ▼
                    ┌─────────────────────────┐
                    │ Outbound POST Request   │
                    └────────────┬────────────┘
                                 │
                        [ Success? (200 OK) ]
                           ╱               ╲
                         YES                NO
                         ╱                   ╲
                   ┌────────┐       ┌──────────────────────┐
                   │ Finish │       │ Exponential Backoff  │
                   └────────┘       │   (Up to 10 Retries) │
                                    └──────────────────────┘
```

Available template variables include:
* `{{to}}`
* `{{from}}`
* `{{subject}}`
* `{{body}}`
* `{{attachments}}`

### Provisioning an Automated Ingestion Pipeline

To configure an endpoint with signing and retry policies, dispatch a payload to the webhook configuration route:

```bash
curl -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/webhook/save/test@example.com \
  -d "enabled=true" \
  -d "webhook_url=https://myapi.com/webhook" \
  -d 'payload_template={"email":"{{to}}","subject":"{{subject}}"}' \
  -d "max_attempts=5" \
  -d "secret_key=your-secret-key"
```

When a `secret_key` is supplied, OpenTrashmail calculates an HMAC-SHA256 digest across the request payload and injects it into the `X-Webhook-Signature` header. The downstream consumer must calculate the same digest over the incoming raw body using the shared secret to verify transport authenticity. If downstream delivery fails, the dispatcher executes an exponential backoff loop, supporting up to 10 retry attempts.

## Configuration Parameters

All system behaviors are exposed through `config.ini` or environment variables:

* **DOMAINS**: Comma-delimited list of domains accepted by the SMTP listener.
* **MAILPORT**: Network port bound by the Python SMTP service (default: `25`).
* **URL**: Base public URL exposed by the web UI.
* **ADMIN**: Designated address with administrative visibility across all stored mailboxes.
* **PASSWORD**: Global credential gate protecting UI and API access.
* **ALLOWED_IPS**: CIDR blocks allowed to communicate with UI and API routes.
* **ATTACHMENTS_MAX_SIZE**: Threshold in bytes for inbound attachment writes.
* **TLS_CERTIFICATE** / **TLS_PRIVATE_KEY**: Filesystem paths to TLS assets. The server supports Plaintext, STARTTLS, and TLS on Connect. Development certificates can be created directly via `openssl`.

## Production Deployment with Docker

Deploying a containerized instance with persistent local storage, custom date formatting, automated purging, and explicit domain bindings requires a single runtime declaration:

```bash
docker run -d --restart=unless-stopped --name opentrashmail \
  -e "DOMAINS=mydomain.eu" \
  -e "DATEFORMAT='D.M.YYYY HH:mm'" \
  -e "DISCARD_UNKNOWN=false" \
  -e "DELETE_OLDER_THAN_DAYS=90" \
  -p 80:80 -p 25:25 \
  -v /path/on/host/where/to/save/data:/var/www/opentrashmail/data \
  hascheksolutions/opentrashmail:1
```

This deployment configuration maps port 25 for inbound SMTP and port 80 for HTTP operations. The `DELETE_OLDER_THAN_DAYS=90` directive prevents storage exhaustion by pruning flat-file records older than three months automatically. 

Once your domain MX record targets the host interface, the entire ingestion pipeline is operational without database migrations, index maintenance, or background worker dependencies.

## Reference
* https://github.com/HaschekSolutions/opentrashmail

Deploy OpenTrashmail: a self-hosted, Python-based disposable email server with flat-file persistence, webhooks, JSON API, and zero database overhead.

Why Run a Database for Disposable Email? Architecture of a Zero-State Mail Engine

# Calibre 7.10 Finally Fixes the Content Server Interface

For years, self-hosting an e-book collection meant living with a stark functional compromise: rock-solid library metadata management locally, paired with a web interface that felt like a relic from an earlier decade. Calibre 7.10 directly addresses this disparity. The latest release of the open-source e-book manager targets its built-in Content Server component, deploying a redesigned user interface that changes how users interact with their collections over the network.

## The Role of the Content Server

At its core, Calibre operates as an open-source powerhouse designed to wrangle massive digital libraries with extreme precision. While the desktop client handles local manipulation, format conversions, and metadata updates, the Content Server serves as the network bridge. 

The Content Server exposes your underlying storage layer directly to the network. It allows remote clients to query, browse, and read library volumes straight from any standard web browser without requiring dedicated local software on the client machine.

```
+-------------------------------------------------------+
|                    Calibre 7.10                       |
|  +---------------------+     +---------------------+  |
|  |   E-Book Storage    | <-> |   Content Server    |  |
|  |  & Metadata Engine  |     |   (Modernized UI)   |  |
|  +---------------------+     +----------+----------+  |
+-----------------------------------------|-------------+
                                          | HTTP / Web
                                          v
                               [ Any Modern Browser ]
```

Prior iterations provided standard functional network access, but the front-end layout clearly lagged behind modern expectations. Calibre 7.10 modernizes that remote endpoint completely.

## Breaking Down the 7.10 UI Overhaul

The main objective in Calibre 7.10 is eliminating the legacy feel of remote browser-based access. By overhauling the front-end layer of the Content Server, the interface transitions into a proper, first-class web application.

### Key Functional Shifts in 7.10

| Component | Legacy Content Server Behavior | Calibre 7.10 Implementation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **User Interface** | Functional, legacy browser presentation | Modernized, first-class web app interface |
| **Access Model** | Network-served web portal | Streamlined browser access across remote devices |
| **System Focus** | Desktop-centric management | Parity between local utility and remote delivery |

The updated UI enhances how users navigate large collections remotely. Instead of treating network delivery as an afterthought, the 7.10 build turns the Content Server into a clean, operational front door for your remote library.

## Sustainable Open-Source Engineering

Calibre remains a foundational toolchain for serious digital collectors because of continuous, iterative development. Rather than chasing unnecessary architectural rewrites, the development team consistently focuses on practical quality-of-life bottlenecks. 

Version 7.10 demonstrates this pragmatic maintenance loop. By modernizing the Content Server interface, the project ensures that its web-accessible layer matches the robustness of its underlying open-source manager.

## Reference
* https://9to5linux.com/calibre-9-10-open-source-e-book-manager-brings-new-ui-to-the-content-server

Calibre 7.10 delivers a modernized User Interface for its built-in Content Server, upgrading browser-based access for self-hosted e-book libraries.

Calibre 7.10 Finally Fixes the Content Server Interface

Eliminate context switching and manage custom domain email directly inside Gmail. Configure unified inbound ingestion and Send As permissions seamlessly.

The Unified Inbox Architecture: Routing Custom Domain Webmail Through Gmail

Eliminate manual rotation bottlenecks, thermal lag, and biological variance by building an automated, headless AC-powered egg incubator setup.

Stop Acting as a Manual Cron Job: Engineering an Automated AC-Powered Incubator

Ditch mains AC for a stable, low-voltage DC egg incubator. Learn how dedicated temp and humidity control modules optimize poultry yields.

Why AC Mains Are Ruining Your Hatch Rates: Building a Reliable Low-Voltage DC Incubator

A technical systems breakdown of battery-powered ride-on car assembly for ages 2 to 7 (50kg max), covering safety envelopes, parental remote control, and multimedia architecture.

Architecting the Scaled EV: Remote Override Logic and Multimedia Integration for Electric Ride-On Chassis

Learn how to build a reliable smart power strip using NodeMCU and Blynk for wireless and voice-controlled electrical management.

Why Remote Power Switching Fails in Hardware Prototypes and How NodeMCU with Blynk Solves It

Fix persistent macOS bugs, wipe disk bloat, or prep for resale. Master Internet Recovery (Command+Option+R), APFS reformatting, and clean installation.

#self-hosted

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