Pros of mailserver

• Simpler setup with fewer configuration options, making it easier for beginners
• Includes a web-based administration interface for easier management
• Smaller image size, potentially leading to faster deployments

Cons of mailserver

• Less actively maintained, with fewer recent updates
• More limited customization options compared to docker-mailserver
• Lacks some advanced features like LDAP support and custom Postfix/Dovecot configurations

Code comparison

mailserver:

version: '2'
services:
  mailserver:
    image: hardware/mailserver
    container_name: mailserver
    domainname: domain.tld
    hostname: mail

docker-mailserver:

version: '2'
services:
  mailserver:
    image: docker-mailserver/docker-mailserver:latest
    container_name: mailserver
    hostname: mail
    domainname: domain.tld
    env_file: mailserver.env

Both projects use similar Docker Compose configurations, but docker-mailserver typically requires more environment variables and configuration files for advanced setups.

Pros of docker-mailserver

• More active development and frequent updates
• Larger community and better support
• Comprehensive documentation and setup guides

Cons of docker-mailserver

• Potentially more complex setup for beginners
• May require more resources due to additional features

Code Comparison

docker-mailserver:

FROM ubuntu:22.04

LABEL maintainer="Thomas Bertrand <thomas.bertrand@gmail.com>"

ARG DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
ARG DOVECOT_COMMUNITY_REPO=0

docker-mailserver:

FROM ubuntu:22.04

LABEL maintainer="Thomas Bertrand <thomas.bertrand@gmail.com>"

ARG DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
ARG DOVECOT_COMMUNITY_REPO=0

As we can see, the base Dockerfile for both repositories is identical. This is because docker-mailserver is the same project, and there is no separate repository called "docker-mailserver/docker-mailserver". The comparison provided above is based on the assumption that there might have been a misunderstanding or typo in the original request. In reality, there is only one docker-mailserver project, which is actively maintained and widely used for setting up a full-featured mail server in Docker containers.

Pros of mailcow-dockerized

• Comprehensive web-based administration interface for easy management
• Includes additional features like SOGo webmail and ActiveSync support
• More user-friendly setup process with guided configuration

Cons of mailcow-dockerized

• Higher resource requirements due to additional components
• More complex architecture, potentially harder to customize
• Steeper learning curve for users familiar with simpler mail server setups

Code Comparison

mailcow-dockerized:

version: '2.1'
services:
  dovecot-mailcow:
    image: mailcow/dovecot:1.8
    volumes:
      - ./data/dkim/:/etc/dkim/

docker-mailserver:

version: '2'
services:
  mailserver:
    image: docker.io/mailserver/docker-mailserver:latest
    container_name: mailserver
    hostname: mail.example.com

The code snippets show that mailcow-dockerized uses separate containers for different components, while docker-mailserver combines everything into a single container. This reflects the difference in architecture and complexity between the two projects.

Both repositories offer Docker-based mail server solutions, but mailcow-dockerized provides a more feature-rich and user-friendly experience at the cost of increased complexity and resource usage. docker-mailserver, on the other hand, offers a simpler and more lightweight approach, which may be preferable for users who prioritize customization and resource efficiency.

Pros of Modoboa

• Comprehensive web-based administration interface for managing email domains, accounts, and aliases
• Built-in webmail client for user convenience
• Extensible architecture with plugins for additional functionality

Cons of Modoboa

• More complex setup and configuration compared to Docker Mailserver
• Requires a dedicated database for storing configuration and user data
• May have higher resource requirements due to its full-featured nature

Code Comparison

Modoboa (Python):

from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
from modoboa.core.models import User

class Command(BaseCommand):
    help = "Create a new super administrator"

    def handle(self, *args, **options):
        User.objects.create_superuser("admin", "admin@example.com", "password")

Docker Mailserver (Shell):

#!/bin/bash
docker run -d --name mailserver \
  -p 25:25 -p 143:143 -p 587:587 -p 993:993 \
  -e ENABLE_SPAMASSASSIN=1 -e ENABLE_CLAMAV=1 \
  -v /path/to/mail-data:/var/mail \
  docker.io/mailserver/docker-mailserver:latest

The code snippets highlight the different approaches: Modoboa uses Django commands for administration, while Docker Mailserver relies on Docker configuration and environment variables for setup and customization.