A small self-hosted email reminder service built with Python and Postfix
A Reddit user described an email reminder service built with Python and Postfix. The user says you can send an email to an address such as 3days@ and receive it back after that time. The setup uses Postfix in Docker, SQLite, a cron job, and a Hetzner SMTP relay. The author says it runs on a €5/month VPS alongside two other services.
Key points
- The email address itself tells the service when to send the reminder back.
- The post lists formats such as 30min, 4hours, 2weeks, tuesday, and nextmonth.
- Postfix receives the mail and passes it to a Python script.
- The service stores the raw .eml file on disk and writes a row to SQLite.
- A cron job checks every 10 minutes for reminders that are due.
Quick term guide
- Postfix
- Software that helps a server receive and send email.
- Docker
- A tool that packages an app with what it needs to run in many places.
- SQLite
- A small database that can run inside an app or browser without a separate server.
- Mac mini server
- A Mac mini used as an always-on computer for files, apps, backups, or automation.
- Mac mini
- A small desktop computer made by Apple.
- server
- A computer that stores files and shares them with other devices in your home.
- Python script
- A Python script is a small program written in the Python language.
- script
- A small program that automates repeated steps.