Inspiration
SMTP is a pretty straightforward email protocol. It requires very few inputs to connect securely. But, except for some developers, it could be clearer how it works and what it does. I wanted to provide an easy way to test an SMTP configuration by confirming whether the username/password is valid.
What it does
As the name implies, SMTP Tester helps you test an SMTP connection. You fill out a form with your SMTP settings, and it will try to connect to the SMTP server and send an email to ensure everything is correctly set up.
How I built it
It's built using Node.js, JavaScript, and Vue.js.
Challenges I ran into
We wanted to make it very easy to use and well-designed. It should work from a web page, freely accessible to everyone. So, we started with the user's needs and how we can help them. Inserting the most common SMTP configuration (Gmail, Outlook, etc.) quickly became logical.
Accomplishments that I'm proud of
The cherry on the cake is that the user can see all the behind-the-scenes. The technical logs are available. So, while the tool can detect the most common errors, you'll get the actual error message if you hit something unusual. It's like TELNET but made with modern UX.
What I learned
The UX is essential.
What's next for SMTP Tester
We want to make it a great resource, part of our free tools suite around email.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.