Show HN: Sendune – open-source HTML email designer

Article summary

The authors of Sendune, an open-source HTML email designer, have released their tool to simplify the process of creating HTML emails. The designer focuses on simplicity, ease of use, and produces pure HTML output without intermediate code. It can be embedded within any app and used with any email service provider. The goal is to provide a basic, open-source HTML email designer that is lightweight and easy to use.

Main themes

• HTML email design
• Open-source software
• Email client compatibility
• Markup languages
• Email security
• UI evolution

What commenters say

• The use of HTML in emails is unnecessary and can be replaced with plain text or markdown for simplicity and security.
• Email markup has not evolved significantly over the years, which can be seen as a good thing due to its ability to maintain compatibility across different clients and time.
• The development of a standardized, HTML-independent markup language for email could simplify the process of creating compatible emails.
• Some email clients, such as Outlook, have limited support for HTML and CSS features, making it difficult to create consistent email designs.
• The argument that limiting HTML and CSS support in email clients enhances security is not convincing to some, who see it as an obstacle to improving email design and functionality.
• The evolution of UI practices is not always necessary or beneficial, and in some cases, it can lead to a worse user experience.
• A standardized way of handling email templates and designs across different email service providers and clients is needed to improve the overall email design experience.
• The use of intermediate code, such as MJML, can abstract away some of the complexities of HTML email design, but may not be suitable for all use cases.