# IMAP Email Migration Pattern

Source-to-destination IMAP migration using Python stdlib (imaplib). Used for migrating email accounts from SiteGround to MXroute.

## Known Hosts

| Provider | IMAP Host | Port |
|----------|-----------|------|
| SiteGround | c1113726.sgvps.net | 993 |
| MXroute | heracles.mxrouting.net | 993 |
| germainebrown.com | mail.germainebrown.com | 993 |
| iCloud | imap.mail.me.com | 993 |

## Pattern

```python
import imaplib, ssl
ctx = ssl.create_default_context()

# Connect old
old = imaplib.IMAP4_SSL(OLD_HOST, 993, ssl_context=ctx, timeout=15)
old.login(email, old_pw)

# Connect new
new = imaplib.IMAP4_SSL(NEW_HOST, 993, ssl_context=ctx, timeout=15)
new.login(email, new_pw)

# Get folder list
for line in old.list()[1]:
    decoded = line.decode()
    # IMAP list format: (flags) "." "foldername"
    # Extract the last quoted segment
    parts = decoded.split('"')
    folder = parts[-2] if len(parts) >= 2 else decoded.split()[-1]

# Copy messages
for uid in uids:
    r = old.fetch(uid, "(RFC822)")
    if r[0] == "OK" and isinstance(r[1][0], tuple):
        new.append(target_folder, None, None, r[1][0][1])
```

## Pitfalls

- **SiteGround folder list is nonstandard** — subfolders show as `INBOX.Trash`, `INBOX.Sent`, etc. but the LIST response uses `"."` as separator. Parse carefully — there are many redundant `.` entries. Only folders with actual content (INBOX.Trash, INBOX.Sent, etc.) are real.
- **Timeout on large folders** — 60s is not enough for 100+ messages. Set terminal timeout to 300 for full migration.
- **Duplicate on retry** — if a migration is interrupted and restarted, messages get appended twice. No built-in dedup during copy. Mapped folders (Trash, Sent) may show 2x expected count after retry. Clean up via MXroute webmail.
- **Folder name mapping** — SiteGround uses dotted hierarchy (INBOX.Trash), MXroute uses flat names (Trash). Map explicitly per account.
- **MXroute folder creation** — `new.create("Trash")` works for flat names but can fail if the folder already exists (catch and pass).
- **MXroute LIST response** may show 6 `.` entries with no content — these are cursor entries, not actual folders. Filter them out with `if fname == ".": continue`.
- **SiteGround LIST `%` pattern may error** — `list('', 'INBOX.*')` returns BAD on SiteGround. Use `list()` with no pattern and parse the full response.
- **List response parsing is provider-specific** — the HMXroute format is `(flags) "." Trash` (simple), while SiteGround is `(flags) "." "INBOX.Trash"` (quoted). Use `rsplit('"', 2)` for max compatibility across providers.
