Zero is an open-source, AI-driven email application designed for users prioritizing privacy and self-hosting. It offers a unified inbox for multiple email providers (like Gmail) and aims to modernize email through AI agents, providing a customizable and developer-friendly alternative to closed-source, data-hungry services.

How It Works

Zero employs a modern tech stack with Next.js, React, and TypeScript for the frontend, and Node.js with Drizzle ORM for the backend, all powered by PostgreSQL. It leverages Better Auth for authentication and integrates with Google OAuth for services like Gmail. The AI agent integration is a core feature, promising enhanced email functionalities, though specific AI models or agent capabilities are not detailed in the README.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Install/Run: Clone the repository, install dependencies with bun install, start the database with bun docker:up, initialize the database with bun db:push, and start the app with bun dev.
• Prerequisites: Node.js (v18+), Bun (v1.2+), Docker (v20+), PostgreSQL. Google OAuth setup (People API, Gmail API) is required for Gmail integration.
• Setup: The README provides a detailed guide for both standard setup and a Dev Container setup for VS Code users.
• Links: Discord: https://discord.gg/0email

Highlighted Details

• Open-source with a focus on data privacy.
• AI-driven features for email enhancement.
• Self-hosting capability with a unified inbox for multiple providers.
• Developer-friendly with an extensible architecture.

Maintenance & Community

The project highlights its contributors and maintainers. A Discord server is available for community engagement.

Licensing & Compatibility

The README does not explicitly state a license. This is a critical omission for evaluating commercial use or closed-source linking.

Limitations & Caveats

The project is described as an "AI email solution" but lacks specific details on the AI models or agent functionalities. The privacy statement notes that data passed through integrated external services is subject to those services' privacy policies, not Zero's. The absence of a stated license is a significant caveat.