www: if invite_token is set, don't show the QR code & register button

Co-authored-by: holger krekel  <holger@merlinux.eu>

.github/workflows/test-and-deploy-ipv4only.yaml

@@ -70,9 +70,6 @@ jobs:
           rsync -avz dkimkeys-restore/dkimkeys root@staging-ipv4.testrun.org:/etc/ || true
           ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new -v root@staging-ipv4.testrun.org chown root:root -R /var/lib/acme || true
 
-      - name: run formatting checks 
-        run: cmdeploy fmt -v 
-
       - name: run deploy-chatmail offline tests 
         run: pytest --pyargs cmdeploy 
 

.github/workflows/test-and-deploy.yaml

@@ -70,9 +70,6 @@ jobs:
           rsync -avz dkimkeys-restore/dkimkeys root@staging2.testrun.org:/etc/ || true
           ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new -v root@staging2.testrun.org chown root:root -R /var/lib/acme || true
 
-      - name: run formatting checks 
-        run: cmdeploy fmt -v 
-
       - name: run deploy-chatmail offline tests 
         run: pytest --pyargs cmdeploy 
 

ARCHITECTURE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+This diagram shows components of the chatmail server; this is a draft
+overview as of mid-August 2025:
+
+```mermaid
+graph LR;
+    cmdeploy --- sshd;
+    letsencrypt --- |80|acmetool-redirector;
+    acmetool-redirector --- |443|nginx-right(["`nginx
+    (external)`"]);
+    nginx-external --- |465|postfix;
+    nginx-external(["`nginx
+    (external)`"]) --- |8443|nginx-internal["`nginx
+    (internal)`"];
+    nginx-internal --- website["`Website
+    /var/www/html`"];
+    nginx-internal --- newemail.py;
+    nginx-internal --- autoconfig.xml;
+    certs-nginx[("`TLS certs
+    /var/lib/acme`")] --> nginx-internal;
+    cron --- chatmail-metrics;
+    cron --- acmetool;
+    cron --- expunge;
+    chatmail-metrics --- website;
+    acmetool --> certs[("`TLS certs
+    /var/lib/acme`")];
+    nginx-external --- |993|dovecot;
+    autoconfig.xml --- postfix;
+    autoconfig.xml --- dovecot;
+    postfix --- echobot;
+    postfix --- |10080,10081|filtermail;
+    postfix --- users["`User data
+    home/vmail/mail`"];
+    postfix --- |doveauth.socket|doveauth;
+    dovecot --- |doveauth.socket|doveauth;
+    dovecot --- users;
+    dovecot --- |metadata.socket|chatmail-metadata;
+    doveauth --- users;
+    expunge --- users;
+    chatmail-metadata --- iroh-relay;
+    certs-nginx --> postfix;
+    certs-nginx --> dovecot;
+    style certs fill:#ff6;
+    style certs-nginx fill:#ff6;
+    style nginx-external fill:#fc9;
+    style nginx-right fill:#fc9;
+```
+
+The edges in this graph should not be taken too literally; they
+reflect some sort of communication path or dependency relationship
+between components of the chatmail server.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,18 @@
 
 ## untagged
 
+- Enable invite-only chatmail relays with invite tokens
+  that can override disabled account creation
+  ([#600](https://github.com/chatmail/relay/pull/600))
+
+- dovecot: keep mailbox index only in memory to avoid unnecessary disc usage 
+  ([#632](https://github.com/chatmail/relay/pull/632))
+
+## 1.7.0 2025-09-11
+
+- Make www upload path configurable
+  ([#618](https://github.com/chatmail/relay/pull/618))
+
 - Check whether GCC is installed in initenv.sh
   ([#608](https://github.com/chatmail/relay/pull/608))
 
@@ -29,6 +41,9 @@
 - filtermail: respect config message size limit
   ([#572](https://github.com/chatmail/relay/pull/572))
 
+- Don't deploy if one of the ports used for chatmail relay services is occupied by an unexpected process
+  ([#568](https://github.com/chatmail/relay/pull/568))
+
 - Add config value after how many days large files are deleted
   ([#555](https://github.com/chatmail/relay/pull/555))
 

README.md

@@ -255,6 +255,18 @@ This starts a local live development cycle for chatmail web pages:
 
 - Starts a browser window automatically where you can "refresh" as needed.
 
+#### Custom web pages
+
+You can skip uploading a web page
+by setting `www_folder=disabled` in `chatmail.ini`.
+
+If you want to manage your web pages outside this git repository,
+you can set `www_folder` in `chatmail.ini` to a custom directory on your computer.
+`cmdeploy run` will upload it as the server's home page,
+and if it contains a `src/index.md` file,
+will build it with hugo.
+
+
 ## Mailbox directory layout
 
 Fresh chatmail addresses have a mailbox directory that contains: 
@@ -272,8 +284,23 @@ Fresh chatmail addresses have a mailbox directory that contains:
   will typically be empty unless the user of that address hasn't been online 
   for a while. 
 
+## Restrict address creation
 
-## Emergency Commands to disable automatic address creation
+### Only allow new addresses with an invite token
+
+To restrict address creation for anyone who doesn't have the invite link/QR code:
+
+1. Use the `invite_token` option to add
+   one or more tokens of your choice to `chatmail.ini`:
+   `invite_token = s3cr3t privil3g3`
+   - (recommendation: choose 9 or more letters, or it will be easily bruteforced)
+2. Run `scripts/cmdeploy run`
+3. Distribute a `dcaccount` invite link/QR code
+   (like the one on your web page)
+   with one of your invite tokens added at the end,
+   for example: `dcaccount:https://example.org/new?s3cr3t`
+
+### Emergency Command to disable automatic address creation
 
 If you need to stop address creation,
 e.g. because some script is wildly creating addresses, 

chatmaild/src/chatmaild/config.py

@@ -31,8 +31,10 @@ class Config:
         self.username_min_length = int(params["username_min_length"])
         self.username_max_length = int(params["username_max_length"])
         self.password_min_length = int(params["password_min_length"])
+        self.invite_token = params.get("invite_token", "")
         self.passthrough_senders = params["passthrough_senders"].split()
         self.passthrough_recipients = params["passthrough_recipients"].split()
+        self.www_folder = params.get("www_folder", "")
         self.filtermail_smtp_port = int(params["filtermail_smtp_port"])
         self.filtermail_smtp_port_incoming = int(
             params["filtermail_smtp_port_incoming"]

chatmaild/src/chatmaild/doveauth.py

@@ -26,8 +26,19 @@ def is_allowed_to_create(config: Config, user, cleartext_password) -> bool:
     if os.path.exists(NOCREATE_FILE):
         logging.warning(f"blocked account creation because {NOCREATE_FILE!r} exists.")
         return False
+    password_length = len(cleartext_password)
+    if config.invite_token:
+        for inv_token in config.invite_token.split():
+            if cleartext_password.startswith(inv_token):
+                password_length = len(cleartext_password) - len(inv_token)
+                break
+        else:
+            logging.warning(
+                "blocked account creation because password didn't contain invite token(s)."
+            )
+            return False
 
-    if len(cleartext_password) < config.password_min_length:
+    if password_length < config.password_min_length:
         logging.warning(
             "Password needs to be at least %s characters long",
             config.password_min_length,

chatmaild/src/chatmaild/newemail.py

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 """CGI script for creating new accounts."""
 
 import json
+import os
 import random
 import secrets
 import string
@@ -20,7 +21,11 @@ def create_newemail_dict(config: Config):
         secrets.choice(ALPHANUMERIC_PUNCT)
         for _ in range(config.password_min_length + 3)
     )
-    return dict(email=f"{user}@{config.mail_domain}", password=f"{password}")
+    redirect_uri = os.getenv("REQUEST_URI", "/new")
+    invite_token = "" if redirect_uri == "/new" else redirect_uri[5:]
+    return dict(
+        email=f"{user}@{config.mail_domain}", password=f"{invite_token}{password}"
+    )
 
 
 def print_new_account():

chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_doveauth.py

@@ -64,12 +64,38 @@ def test_dont_overwrite_password_on_wrong_login(dictproxy):
     assert res["password"] == res2["password"]
 
 
-def test_nocreate_file(monkeypatch, tmpdir, dictproxy):
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
-    p = tmpdir.join("nocreate")
+    ["nocreate_file", "account", "invite_token", "password"],
-    p.write("")
+    [
-    monkeypatch.setattr(chatmaild.doveauth, "NOCREATE_FILE", str(p))
+        (False, True, "asdf", "asdfasdmaimfelsgwerw"),
-    dictproxy.lookup_passdb("newuser12@chat.example.org", "zequ0Aimuchoodaechik")
+        (False, False, "asdf", "z9873240187420913798"),
-    assert not dictproxy.lookup_userdb("newuser12@chat.example.org")
+        (False, True, "", "dsaiujfw9fjiwf9w"),
+        (False, False, "asdf", "z987324018742asdf0913798"),
+        (False, True, "as df", "asj0wiefkj0ofkeefok"),
+        (False, True, "as df", "dfj0wiefkj0ofkeefok"),
+        (False, False, "as df", "j0wiefkj0ofas dfkeefok"),
+        (True, False, "asdf", "asdfmosadkdkfwdofkw"),
+        (True, False, "asdf", "z9873240187420913798"),
+        (True, False, "", "dsaiujfw9fjiwf9w"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_nocreate_file(
+    monkeypatch,
+    tmpdir,
+    dictproxy,
+    example_config,
+    nocreate_file: bool,
+    account: bool,
+    invite_token: str,
+    password: str,
+):
+    if nocreate_file:
+        p = tmpdir.join("nocreate")
+        p.write("")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(chatmaild.doveauth, "NOCREATE_FILE", str(p))
+    example_config.invite_token = invite_token
+    dictproxy.lookup_passdb("newuser12@chat.example.org", password)
+    assert bool(dictproxy.lookup_userdb("newuser12@chat.example.org")) == account
 
 
 def test_handle_dovecot_request(dictproxy):

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/__init__.py

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from io import StringIO
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from chatmaild.config import Config, read_config
-from pyinfra import facts, host
+from pyinfra import facts, host, logger
 from pyinfra.api import FactBase
 from pyinfra.facts.files import File
 from pyinfra.facts.server import Sysctl
@@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ def deploy_chatmail(config_path: Path, disable_mail: bool) -> None:
     check_config(config)
     mail_domain = config.mail_domain
 
-    from .www import build_webpages
+    from .www import build_webpages, get_paths
 
     server.group(name="Create vmail group", group="vmail", system=True)
     server.user(name="Create vmail user", user="vmail", group="vmail", system=True)
@@ -675,10 +675,30 @@ def deploy_chatmail(config_path: Path, disable_mail: bool) -> None:
     # to use 127.0.0.1 as the resolver.
     from cmdeploy.cmdeploy import Out
 
-    process_on_53 = host.get_fact(Port, port=53)
+    port_services = [
-    if process_on_53 not in (None, "unbound"):
+        (["master", "smtpd"], 25),
-        Out().red(f"Can't install unbound: port 53 is occupied by: {process_on_53}")
+        ("unbound", 53),
-        exit(1)
+        ("acmetool", 80),
+        ("imap-login", 143),
+        ("nginx", 443),
+        (["master", "smtpd"], 465),
+        (["master", "smtpd"], 587),
+        ("imap-login", 993),
+        ("iroh-relay", 3340),
+        ("nginx", 8443),
+        (["master", "smtpd"], config.postfix_reinject_port),
+        (["master", "smtpd"], config.postfix_reinject_port_incoming),
+        ("filtermail", config.filtermail_smtp_port),
+        ("filtermail", config.filtermail_smtp_port_incoming),
+    ]
+    for service, port in port_services:
+        print(f"Checking if port {port} is available for {service}...")
+        running_service = host.get_fact(Port, port=port)
+        if running_service:
+            if running_service not in service:
+                Out().red(f"Deploy failed: port {port} is occupied by: {running_service}")
+                exit(1)
+
     apt.packages(
         name="Install unbound",
         packages=["unbound", "unbound-anchor", "dnsutils"],
@@ -731,12 +751,16 @@ def deploy_chatmail(config_path: Path, disable_mail: bool) -> None:
         packages=["fcgiwrap"],
     )
 
-    www_path = importlib.resources.files(__package__).joinpath("../../../www").resolve()
+    www_path, src_dir, build_dir = get_paths(config)
-
+    # if www_folder was set to a non-existing folder, skip upload
-    build_dir = www_path.joinpath("build")
+    if not www_path.is_dir():
-    src_dir = www_path.joinpath("src")
+        logger.warning("Building web pages is disabled in chatmail.ini, skipping")
-    build_webpages(src_dir, build_dir, config)
+    else:
-    files.rsync(f"{build_dir}/", "/var/www/html", flags=["-avz"])
+        # if www_folder is a hugo page, build it
+        if build_dir:
+            www_path = build_webpages(src_dir, build_dir, config)
+        # if it is not a hugo page, upload it as is
+        files.rsync(f"{www_path}/", "/var/www/html", flags=["-avz"])
 
     _install_remote_venv_with_chatmaild(config)
     debug = False

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/acmetool/__init__.py

@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 import importlib.resources
 
-from pyinfra import host
-from pyinfra.facts.systemd import SystemdStatus
 from pyinfra.operations import apt, files, server, systemd
 
 
@@ -54,12 +52,6 @@ def deploy_acmetool(email="", domains=[]):
         group="root",
         mode="644",
     )
-    if host.get_fact(SystemdStatus).get("nginx.service"):
-        systemd.service(
-            name="Stop nginx service to free port 80",
-            service="nginx",
-            running=False,
-        )
 
     systemd.service(
         name="Setup acmetool-redirector service",

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/cmdeploy.py

@@ -89,6 +89,14 @@ def run_cmd(args, out):
     try:
         retcode = out.check_call(cmd, env=env)
         if retcode == 0:
+            print("\nYou can try out the relay by talking to this echo bot: ")
+            sshexec = SSHExec(args.config.mail_domain, verbose=args.verbose)
+            print(
+                sshexec(
+                    call=remote.rshell.shell,
+                    kwargs=dict(command="cat /var/lib/echobot/invite-link.txt"),
+                )
+            )
             out.green("Deploy completed, call `cmdeploy dns` next.")
         elif not remote_data["acme_account_url"]:
             out.red("Deploy completed but letsencrypt not configured")

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/dovecot/dovecot.conf.j2

@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ userdb {
 ##
 
 # Mailboxes are stored in the "mail" directory of the vmail user home.
-mail_location = maildir:{{ config.mailboxes_dir }}/%u
+mail_location = maildir:{{ config.mailboxes_dir }}/%u:INDEX=MEMORY
 
 namespace inbox {
   inbox = yes

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/nginx/nginx.conf.j2

@@ -84,12 +84,13 @@ http {
 			if ($request_method = GET) {
 				# Redirect to Delta Chat,
 				# which will in turn do a POST request.
-				return 301 dcaccount:https://{{ config.domain_name }}/new;
+				return 301 dcaccount:https://{{ config.domain_name }}$request_uri;
 			}
 
 			fastcgi_pass unix:/run/fcgiwrap.socket;
 			include /etc/nginx/fastcgi_params;
 			fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME /usr/lib/cgi-bin/newemail.py;
+			fastcgi_param QUERY_STRING $query_string;
 		}
 
 		# Old URL for compatibility with e.g. printed QR codes.
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ http {
 		# Redirects are only for browsers.
 		location /cgi-bin/newemail.py {
 			if ($request_method = GET) {
-				return 301 dcaccount:https://{{ config.domain_name }}/new;
+				return 301 dcaccount:https://{{ config.domain_name }}$request_uri;
 			}
 
 			fastcgi_pass unix:/run/fcgiwrap.socket;

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/tests/test_cmdeploy.py

@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
+import importlib
 import os
 
 import pytest
 
 from cmdeploy.cmdeploy import get_parser, main
+from cmdeploy.www import get_paths
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
@@ -27,3 +29,28 @@ class TestCmdline:
         assert main(["init", "chat.example.org"]) == 1
         out, err = capsys.readouterr()
         assert "path exists" in out.lower()
+
+
+def test_www_folder(example_config, tmp_path):
+    reporoot = importlib.resources.files(__package__).joinpath("../../../../").resolve()
+    assert not example_config.www_folder
+    www_path, src_dir, build_dir = get_paths(example_config)
+    assert www_path.absolute() == reporoot.joinpath("www").absolute()
+    assert src_dir == reporoot.joinpath("www").joinpath("src")
+    assert build_dir == reporoot.joinpath("www").joinpath("build")
+    example_config.www_folder = "disabled"
+    www_path, _, _ = get_paths(example_config)
+    assert not www_path.is_dir()
+    example_config.www_folder = str(tmp_path)
+    www_path, src_dir, build_dir = get_paths(example_config)
+    assert www_path == tmp_path
+    assert not src_dir.exists()
+    assert not build_dir
+    src_path = tmp_path.joinpath("src")
+    os.mkdir(src_path)
+    with open(src_path / "index.md", "w") as f:
+        f.write("# Test")
+    www_path, src_dir, build_dir = get_paths(example_config)
+    assert www_path == tmp_path
+    assert src_dir == src_path
+    assert build_dir == tmp_path.joinpath("build")

cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/www.py

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import importlib.resources
 import time
 import traceback
 import webbrowser
+from pathlib import Path
 
 import markdown
 from chatmaild.config import read_config
@@ -30,9 +31,25 @@ def prepare_template(source):
     return render_vars, page_layout
 
 
-def build_webpages(src_dir, build_dir, config):
+def get_paths(config) -> (Path, Path, Path):
+    reporoot = importlib.resources.files(__package__).joinpath("../../../").resolve()
+    www_path = Path(config.www_folder)
+    # if www_folder was not set, use default directory
+    if config.www_folder == "":
+        www_path = reporoot.joinpath("www")
+    src_dir = www_path.joinpath("src")
+    # if www_folder is a hugo page, build it
+    if src_dir.joinpath("index.md").is_file():
+        build_dir = www_path.joinpath("build")
+    # if it is not a hugo page, upload it as is
+    else:
+        build_dir = None
+    return www_path, src_dir, build_dir
+
+
+def build_webpages(src_dir, build_dir, config) -> Path:
     try:
-        _build_webpages(src_dir, build_dir, config)
+        return _build_webpages(src_dir, build_dir, config)
     except Exception:
         print(traceback.format_exc())
 
@@ -106,15 +123,11 @@ def main():
     config = read_config(inipath)
     config.webdev = True
     assert config.mail_domain
-    www_path = reporoot.joinpath("www")
-    src_path = www_path.joinpath("src")
-    stats = None
-    build_dir = www_path.joinpath("build")
-    src_dir = www_path.joinpath("src")
-    index_path = build_dir.joinpath("index.html")
 
     # start web page generation, open a browser and wait for changes
-    build_webpages(src_dir, build_dir, config)
+    www_path, src_path, build_dir = get_paths(config)
+    build_dir = build_webpages(src_path, build_dir, config)
+    index_path = build_dir.joinpath("index.html")
     webbrowser.open(str(index_path))
     stats = snapshot_dir_stats(src_path)
     print(f"\nOpened URL: file://{index_path.resolve()}\n")
@@ -135,7 +148,7 @@ def main():
                 changenum += 1
 
         stats = newstats
-        build_webpages(src_dir, build_dir, config)
+        build_webpages(src_path, build_dir, config)
         print(f"[{changenum}] regenerated web pages at: {index_path}")
         print(f"URL: file://{index_path.resolve()}\n\n")
         count = 0

www/src/index.md

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ for Delta Chat users.  For details how it avoids storing personal information
 please see our [privacy policy](privacy.html). 
 {% endif %}
 
+{% if not config.invite_token %}
 <a class="cta-button" href="DCACCOUNT:https://{{ config.mail_domain }}/new">Get a {{config.mail_domain}} chat profile</a>
 
 If you are viewing this page on a different device
@@ -23,6 +24,10 @@ you can also **scan this QR code** with Delta Chat:
 🐣 **Choose** your Avatar and Name
 
 💬 **Start** chatting with any Delta Chat contacts using [QR invite codes](https://delta.chat/en/help#howtoe2ee)
+{% else %}
+**To join this instance, you need an invite link or QR code -
+ask the admin for an invite.**
+{% endif %}
 
 {% if config.mail_domain != "nine.testrun.org" %}
 <div class="experimental">Note: this is only a temporary development chatmail service</div>