Email System

Booking Calendar uses a robust email notification system to keep both admins and guests informed throughout the booking lifecycle.

Technology Stack

• Nodemailer: Handles SMTP transport.
• Handlebars: Renders HTML email templates.
• node-ics: Generates calendar attachments (.ics).

Configuration

Email settings are managed through environment variables:

Variable	Description
SMTP_HOST	The hostname of your SMTP server.
SMTP_PORT	Port (usually 587 for STARTTLS or 465 for SSL).
SMTP_USER	Username for authentication.
SMTP_PASS	Password for authentication.
SMTP_FROM	The address that will appear in the "From" field.

Email Templates

Templates are located in src/server/mail/templates and are written using Handlebars (.hbs):

1. booking-confirmation.hbs: Sent to the guest after they request a slot.
2. admin-notification.hbs: Sent to the admin when a new booking is requested.
3. cancellation-notification.hbs: Sent when an appointment is cancelled.

Calendar Integration

Every confirmation email includes an ICS attachment. When opened, it allows the guest to add the appointment directly to their calendar app (Google, Apple, Outlook, etc.).

Token-based Cancellations

Standard emails include a secure, token-based link that allows guests to cancel their appointment without needing to log in. This token is verified by the backend to ensure authorization.

TROUBLESHOOTING

If emails are not being sent:

• Verify your SMTP credentials.
• Check if your server firewall allows outgoing connections on the SMTP port.
• Ensure the BASE_URL is correctly set in .env, as it's used to generate links inside the emails.