chore(vnc): bootstrap VNCmail+ fork — vnc/ layer + Vercel runbook

Fork of bulwarkmail/webmail for deploy on Vercel as project vncmail-plus.
Adds vnc/ customization layer (branding, overrides, VNC-CHANGES log),
Vercel env template, and VNCMAIL-SETUP.md runbook. No upstream files touched.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>
This commit is contained in:
Bernd Rodler
2026-08-03 15:42:45 +02:00
co-authored by Claude Opus 4.8
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# VNCmail+ — Vercel setup runbook
VNCmail+ is VNC's fork of [Bulwark](https://github.com/bulwarkmail/webmail), a
Next.js (App Router) JMAP webmail client for **Stalwart**. Stalwart is the source
of truth; VNCmail+ is the UI. This repo deploys to **Vercel** as project
`vncmail-plus`.
> **License:** AGPL-3.0. Serving a modified VNCmail+ to users over the network
> obligates VNC to offer those users the corresponding source. Keeping this fork
> public (with a "Source" link in the imprint/UI) satisfies that. Loop in legal
> before a public/customer-facing launch if a closed fork is ever desired.
## Architecture (why Vercel works here)
- JMAP calls go through **server-side Next.js `/api/*` routes** (see `proxy.ts`),
i.e. Vercel Functions talk to Stalwart server-to-server → **no browser CORS**.
- Config is **runtime-read**, so env changes don't need a rebuild.
- Real data (mail/calendar/contacts) lives in **Stalwart**, so Vercel's
ephemeral filesystem is fine. The only features that want a persistent disk
(settings-sync, admin-dashboard persistence, telemetry) are **off by default**
and left off here. If VNC ever needs those persisted, host the upstream Docker
image on VNC infra instead of / alongside Vercel.
## Branches (dev-first)
| Branch | Role |
|--------|------|
| `main` | Tracks upstream Bulwark releases; kept as clean as possible |
| `dev` | VNC integration + **Vercel production branch (for now)** |
| `vnc/*`| Feature branches for UI work |
All VNC customization lives under `vnc/` (see `vnc/VNC-CHANGES.md`).
## One-time Vercel setup
1. **New Project** → import `brvncde-dotcom/vncmail-plus`.
2. Project name: **`vncmail-plus`** (display "VNCmail+"). Framework: Next.js (auto).
3. **Settings → Git → Production Branch = `dev`** (move to `main` only when you
cut a real prod domain).
4. **Settings → Environment Variables:** paste from `vnc/vercel.env.template`.
- Generate the secret: `openssl rand -base64 32`
- Mark `SESSION_SECRET` as **Sensitive**.
5. **Deploy.** Then open the deployment URL and log in as a
`@sandbox.vnc.de` test user (anyone in `vncdirectory.sandbox.vnc.de`).
## Custom domain (recommended)
Add a subdomain of the Stalwart parent, e.g. `mail.sandbox.vnc.de` or
`vncmailplus.sandbox.vnc.de`, in Vercel → Domains. Same parent domain keeps
everything tidy and avoids any future cross-origin edge cases.
## Syncing upstream later
```bash
git fetch upstream
git checkout main && git merge upstream/main # bring in new Bulwark release
git checkout dev && git merge main # integrate; resolve via vnc/VNC-CHANGES.md
git push origin main dev # Vercel redeploys dev
```
## Auth
Basic auth via Stalwart is the default — users sign in with their
`@sandbox.vnc.de` address + password; VNCmail+ authenticates them over JMAP. No
extra config. (SSO via vncdirectory/OIDC is a later option — see
`vnc/vercel.env.template`.)
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# VNC-CHANGES — VNCmail+ divergence log
VNCmail+ is a fork of [bulwarkmail/webmail](https://github.com/bulwarkmail/webmail)
(AGPL-3.0). This file records **every** intentional divergence from upstream so
that merging new upstream releases stays a triage exercise, not an archaeology dig.
## Rules of the fork
1. **Keep upstream files unmodified whenever possible.** Prefer env vars
(branding), the `vnc/overrides/` layer, and additive files over editing files
inside `app/`, `components/`, `lib/`, `stores/`.
2. **Every edit to an upstream file gets a one-line entry below** — path, what,
why. No silent edits.
3. **Branches:** `main` tracks upstream releases (kept clean); `dev` is the VNC
integration + Vercel deploy branch; `vnc/*` are feature branches.
4. **Syncing upstream:** `git fetch upstream && git merge upstream/main` onto
`main`, then merge `main` into `dev`. Resolve using this log.
## Divergences
| Date | File / area | Change | Why |
|------|-------------|--------|-----|
| 2026-08-03 | `vnc/` (new) | Added VNC customization dir + this log | Fork bootstrap |
| 2026-08-03 | `VNCMAIL-SETUP.md` (new) | Vercel deploy runbook | Deploy on Vercel as project "VNCmail+" |
_(append new rows as you diverge)_
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# vnc/branding
Drop VNCmail+ brand assets here (logos, favicon, PWA icons), then point the
runtime branding env vars at them. Most branding needs **no code edit** — it's
all env-driven and read at runtime.
Suggested assets:
- `logo-light.svg` / `logo-dark.svg``APP_LOGO_LIGHT_URL` / `APP_LOGO_DARK_URL`
- `login-logo-light.svg` / `login-logo-dark.svg``LOGIN_LOGO_LIGHT_URL` / `LOGIN_LOGO_DARK_URL`
- `favicon.ico``FAVICON_URL`
- `pwa-icon.png` (512×512) → `PWA_ICON_URL`
To serve these from the app itself, copy them into `public/branding/` and set the
URLs to `/branding/<file>`. To serve from a CDN, set absolute URLs.
Theme colors: `PWA_THEME_COLOR`, `PWA_BACKGROUND_COLOR`.
See `VNCMAIL-SETUP.md` and upstream `.env.example` (branding section) for the full
list.
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# vnc/overrides
Home for VNC-specific UI overrides that go beyond env-driven branding.
Keep changes here (and imported into upstream files with a **single, logged**
edit) rather than editing upstream components in place — it keeps
`git merge upstream/main` cheap.
Pattern:
- Put a replacement component / theme token / CSS layer in this folder.
- Wire it in with the smallest possible edit to the upstream file.
- Record that edit in `../VNC-CHANGES.md`.
If you find yourself editing many upstream files for one feature, stop and
reconsider whether it can be an override or an upstream contribution instead.
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# ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
# VNCmail+ · Vercel environment variables
# Paste these into Vercel → Project "vncmail-plus" → Settings →
# Environment Variables. Do NOT commit real secret values.
# All vars are read at RUNTIME (no rebuild needed to change them),
# except NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_PATH.
# ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
# --- Core: connect to Stalwart over JMAP ---
# Setting this skips the setup wizard and uses env-managed config
# (important on Vercel, where the wizard's disk config is not persisted).
JMAP_SERVER_URL=https://stalwart.sandbox.vnc.de
# --- Session encryption (mark as "Sensitive" in Vercel) ---
# Generate with: openssl rand -base64 32
SESSION_SECRET=__PASTE_GENERATED_SECRET__
# --- Branding ---
APP_NAME=VNCmail+
APP_SHORT_NAME=VNCmail+
LOGIN_COMPANY_NAME=VNC
# --- Quiet the periodic update check (avoids disk/network on serverless) ---
BULWARK_UPDATE_CHECK=off
# ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
# Intentionally NOT set (defaults are correct for a Vercel deploy):
# OAUTH_ENABLED → unset = basic auth via Stalwart (chosen)
# SETTINGS_SYNC_ENABLED → unset = off (needs a persistent disk; skip on Vercel)
# BULWARK_TELEMETRY → unset = off (opt-in only)
# NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_PATH → unset = deploy at domain root
#
# Add later if needed:
# OAUTH_ENABLED / OAUTH_ISSUER_URL / OAUTH_CLIENT_ID / OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRET
# → SSO via vncdirectory (follow-up, not first deploy)
# APP_LOGO_LIGHT_URL / LOGIN_LOGO_LIGHT_URL / FAVICON_URL / PWA_ICON_URL
# → VNC brand assets (see vnc/branding/)
# ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────