Mozilla for GroupWise - Cross Platform Client for GroupWise

"One client to rule them all, and from the platform freed them."

Please consider donating...

As many of you will know, both this project and the next version called Liaison will remain entirely free for not-for-profit/non-commercial use. As a very small company we need your assistance - particularly if you or your organisation is likely to benefit from free use of this software. Please consider donating an amount to help us forward.

What is it?

Mozilla for GroupWise is a cross platform client for Novell's email and collaboration server - GroupWise, written using the Mozilla project's cross platform toolkit. In the same way that Mozilla have used it to create Mozilla Firefox their cross platform web browser, and Mozilla Thunderbird, their cross platform email client, we have used it to create a cross platform client for GroupWise.

This client is entirely based on W3C Web standards. There is absolutely no java, and all the key components are written in XML and Javascript. The actual interface components are all CSS, the icons and images all PNG's. All transactions with the GroupWise Post Office occur over HTTP/S connections, and metadata is stream back to the client in XML- RDF, yet despite all this Mozilla for GroupWise is still a traditional "thick" client not a web client.

Screenshot of the Win Interface
The Win32 Interface
Screenshot of the Mac OS X Interface
The OS X Interface

As if all that wasn't impressive enough, it runs identically on any platform that Mozilla Firefox runs on - currently Windows, Linux and Mac OS X, it is currently less than 250Kb (Yes kilobytes!). Although it is not currently licensed under the GPL, it is and will remain entirely free for non-commercial/non-profit use - this includes any not for profit educational and goverment institutions.

We have had a number of requests to make donations to this project, so if you'd like to help and make a donation please feel free to use the link above.

Installing Mozilla for GroupWise

Anyone that would like to get involved with the beta can do so by downloading the latest build above. The Installation & Configuration forum covers the basics to get you going. Issues with a specific build can be found in the Builds & Bugs forum.

Project Background

Whilst we've always been a fan of the Novell GroupWise server components for their speed, reliability and security. We wanted a fully featured cross platform GroupWise client, that was fast, extendable and simple to use. Mozilla for GroupWise is designed to achieve all of these things and more, our goal is not to just be the best client for GroupWise, but the best groupware client period. By leveraging the power of the Mozilla project we believe this goal to be well within our grasp.

For the record, Java at Redback is a four-letter word, as we firmly believe that Java provides a solution to very little, and when you need to do cross platform, there's usually a better way.

The lead developer originally advocated this solution to Novell as a replacement for the GroupWise 32 Bit client in early 2003. Originally suggesting using a different cross-platform base - the Opera Web Browser, as at that point the Mozilla components were bloated and slow and XUL was immature, even if they were standards compliant. For historical interest the original discussion document is here, along with an architectural overview here and here.

Instant Messenger - 'Jymp'

Mozilla for GroupWise will not be supporting GroupWise messenger but implementing our own IM module called "Jymp". This implements the XML based IETF XMPP Protocol formally the "Jabber" protocol. For more information read the "Jabber" and XMPP Overview.

Technology Presentation

On December 8th last year we gave the first public demo of Mozilla for GroupWise to the UK's GroupWare User Group. You can read the presentation and technology discussion here.

Key Features

  • Tiny footprint - the current builds are under 240 Kb!
  • Quick filter messages in folder view
  • Apply global filtering scopes across application.
  • Full Proxy Access, including muti-user Calendars
  • GroupWise today view called "My World"
  • Tabbed Folders
  • GroupWise Login Scripts.
  • Overlaid multi-user Calendars. Calendars also support quick filter and scopes.
  • Full Message view customisation. eg. An unread mail, with an attachment from "The Boss", should have a red background, and purple text.
  • Fully theme and skinable with CSS
  • 3rd Parties can use Javascript XPCOM interfaces to access the GroupWise datastore.
  • RSS Channels
  • "Contacts" folder shows all address books.
  • Folder view can contain a shortcut to any other folder in the system.
  • Easily add "folder shortcuts" to corporate web applications in the folder view.