Peppermint-Lab/peppermint - Detailed Review#

1. Overview & GitHub Stats#

URL: https://github.com/Peppermint-Lab/peppermint
Stars: 2452

2. Project Description#

Peppermint is an open-source, self-hosted issue management and help desk solution designed to serve as an alternative to commercial platforms like Zendesk and Jira. Built with modern web technologies, it offers a streamlined workflow for ticketing, customer support, and team collaboration, making it ideal for small businesses, startups, and enterprises looking for a customizable and cost-effective solution.

3. What Software Does It Replace?#

Peppermint is a strong competitor to:

Zendesk (Customer support & ticketing)
Jira Service Management (ITSM & issue tracking)
Freshdesk (Help desk software)
osTicket (Open-source ticketing system)

4. Core Functionality#

Key features of Peppermint include:
✔ Ticketing System – Manage customer queries efficiently.
✔ Multi-Channel Support – Email, web forms, and API integrations.
✔ Knowledge Base – Built-in documentation for self-service support.
✔ Custom Workflows – Automate ticket assignments and status updates.
✔ Team Collaboration – Internal notes and agent assignment.
✔ Self-Hosted & Privacy-Focused – Full control over your data.
✔ REST API – Extend functionality with custom integrations.

5. Pros and Cons#

Pros#

✅ Open-source & free – No licensing costs.
✅ Self-hosted – Ideal for privacy-conscious organizations.
✅ Lightweight & fast – Built with modern JavaScript frameworks.
✅ Customizable – Modify workflows and UI as needed.

Cons#

❌ Requires technical setup – Not as plug-and-play as SaaS alternatives.
❌ Smaller community – Fewer third-party integrations compared to Zendesk.
❌ No mobile app (yet) – Web-based only.

6. Detailed Installation Guide (Self-host)#

Prerequisites#

Linux server (Ubuntu 22.04 recommended)
Docker & Docker Compose (Required for containerized deployment)
Node.js (v16+) (For development builds)

Step-by-Step Deployment#

Option 1: Docker (Recommended)#

Install Docker & Docker Compose

1
sudo apt update && sudo apt install docker.io docker-compose -y

Clone the Repository

1
git clone https://github.com/Peppermint-Lab/peppermint.git
2
cd peppermint

Configure Environment
Copy the example .env file and modify it:
Terminal window
```
1
cp .env.example .env
2
nano .env  # Update database and SMTP settings
```
Start the Containers
Terminal window
```
1
docker-compose up -d
```
Access Peppermint
Open http://your-server-ip:3000 in a browser.

Option 2: Manual Setup (For Developers)#

Install Node.js & PostgreSQL

1
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_16.x | sudo -E bash -
2
sudo apt install -y nodejs postgresql

Set Up Database

1
sudo -u postgres psql -c "CREATE DATABASE peppermint;"

Install Dependencies & Run
Terminal window
```
1
npm install
2
npm run build
3
npm start
```

Post-Installation Steps#

Create an admin account via the web interface.
Configure SMTP for email notifications.
Set up backups for the PostgreSQL database.

Conclusion#

Peppermint is a powerful, privacy-focused alternative to commercial help desk solutions. While it requires some technical setup, its open-source nature and customization options make it a compelling choice for teams that value control and flexibility.

🚀 Ready to try it? Clone the repo and deploy today!