Thunderbird's New Appointment Tool: Easy, Free, and Self-Hosted

You run a small business and need a simple way for clients to book appointments. The team behind the popular email client, Thunderbird, has created something that might just be what you're looking for – and it's free! Meet Thunderbird Appointment, a new web service designed by the same folks who brought us the Thunderbird email client. This service is impressively easy to use and can even run on your own local network using Docker. But don’t worry if tech-talk makes you nervous; you can also use it as a straightforward web service without any hassle. With Thunderbird Appointment, planning events, setting availability, and sharing with others becomes a breeze. You can link it to your Google Calendar or book one-off appointments and recurring events. Adding details like meeting notes and video links is also super simple. And the best part? It’s all customizable – from language and theme to time format and time zone.Setting up is a snap too. You configure your availability, share a quick link with clients, and they can book their own appointments in no time. The service defaults to Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, but you can customize it to fit your schedule perfectly. There are a couple of things to keep in mind though. First, there's no dedicated app yet; everything happens on the web. But who needs an app when the web version is so user-friendly? Plus, there’s currently no integration with the Thunderbird email client, which might be a bummer for some. Despite being in beta, Thunderbird Appointment is already quite capable and could serve individuals, non-profits, or small businesses well. Just remember, it's still in its early stages, so expect a few bumps along the way. If you’re interested in trying it out, head over to the official Thunderbird Appointment site and register for the beta. Who knows? It might just become your go-to appointment booking tool!