reply.py, a simple python autoresponder

This program is inteded for use with postfix, or any other MTA that can forward emails to a program for processing.

How it works

The program reads a complete email from stdin and responds to it, maintaining threading information.

The program looks for autoresponses in the templates subdirectory.

If the local part of the recipient address matches the name of a template in that directory, that template is sent in a reply to the sender.

If there is no match, the template default is used. If no default template exists, a failed match will cause an error.

The automatic choice of template can be overridden by specifying a template on the commandline. If the specified template doesn't exist, the program will throw an error.

HTML responses

Optionally, alternative HTML versions of templates may be provided.

In order to use an HTML template, add your HTML content to a template file with the .html suffix. There must also be a template file for plaintext responses (same filename without the suffix).

For example, if there is a default.html template file along with default, autoresponses using the default template will also include an HTML-formatted version of the reply. If only default.html exists, the program will throw an error.

Example usage

In the postfix aliases file, you can trigger this program by using the pipe operator:

someaddress: |"/path/to/reply.py"
anotheraddress: |"/path/to/reply.py sometemplate"

In the first case, the program will look for the template someaddress. If that template doesn't exist, it will fall back to the template default.

In the second case, the program will look for the template sometemplate. An error will be thrown if that template doesn't exist.

In both cases, if the corresponding .html file exists, the response will include an HTML version of the message as well.

Other MTA:s may have different mechanisms to call external programs.