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Data Backends and Providers

Sparks connects various providers (data sources) for calendar, contacts, tasks, and storage. You can use multiple providers in parallel; data is merged and displayed in a unified view.

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Overview​

AreaSupported ProvidersProtocol
CalendarMicrosoft Outlook, Sparks Appointments (Scheduler), Google, Nextcloud, Open-XchangeGraph API, Scheduler API, Google Calendar API, CalDAV, OX API
ContactsMicrosoft Outlook, Nextcloud, Open-Xchange, Google (in development)Graph API, CardDAV, OX API, Google People API
TasksMicrosoft Planner, Nextcloud Tasks, Open-Xchange, Google (in development)Graph API, Nextcloud API, OX API, Google Tasks API
StorageMicrosoft OneDrive, WebDAVGraph API, WebDAV
ChatMatrixMatrix protocol
TeamsMicrosoftMicrosoft Graph API

Sparks Cloud vs. your own Nextcloud​

In deployments with hosted Sparks Cloud (technically: Sparks Cloud PIM/WebDAV, e.g. VITE_SPARKS_CLOUD_WEBDAV and server-side wiring), there are two ways to use the same Nextcloud integration in the app for calendar, contacts, tasks, and file storage:

Sparks CloudNextcloud (your server)
SummaryData via Sparks-operated Nextcloud; sign in with your Sparks/OIDC account (no Nextcloud password stored in the browser).Any self-hosted instance: base URL, username, and app password are stored in Sparks.
At the same time?No for that stack: connecting Nextcloud (your server) turns off Sparks Cloud for calendar, contacts, tasks, and storage; the UI shows a warning. Switching back to Sparks Cloud removes the saved self-hosted connection after confirmation.See left.
In SettingsTwo rows (Sparks Cloud and Nextcloud). While Nextcloud is active, sign-out and the Active toggle for the Sparks Cloud row are restricted accordingly.

Microsoft, Open-Xchange, Google, etc. remain independent and can still be used in parallel.

Calendar Providers​

Microsoft Outlook​

  • Requirement: Microsoft/Office 365 account
  • Setup: Settings → Provider Accounts → Calendar → Connect Microsoft
  • Features: Full calendar sync, recurring events, attendees, Scheduling Assistant, online meetings
  • OAuth: Sign in with Microsoft account, calendar access permissions

Sparks Cloud (CalDAV, hosted)​

  • Requirement: Sparks Cloud provided by your operator; Sparks Cloud PIM/WebDAV enabled.
  • Setup: Settings → Provider Accounts → connect Sparks Cloud (dialog) or via cards under Connected accounts.
  • Note: Mutually exclusive with a self-hosted Nextcloud URL for calendar/contacts/tasks/files (see section above).

Nextcloud (CalDAV, your server)​

  • Requirement: Nextcloud server with CalDAV
  • Setup: CalDAV URL, username, password or app password
  • Features: Calendar sync, multiple calendars, recurring events
  • Note: CalDAV URL e.g. https://nextcloud.example.com/remote.php/dav/calendars/USER/CALENDAR/

Open-Xchange​

  • Requirement: Open-Xchange account (OX App Suite)
  • Setup: OX server URL, credentials
  • Features: Calendar sync, attendees, recurring events
  • Typical use: Organizations using OX as backend

Sparks Appointments (Scheduler)​

  • Requirement: Sparks Appointment Manager (Scheduler) configured
  • Setup: Automatic via autoconfig (appointment_manager.base_url)
  • Features: Appointments with online meeting links, Matrix room linking, join URLs (/j/c/:appointmentId)
  • Note: Often used alongside Microsoft Exchange – meetings saved to Exchange and synced with Scheduler

Google Calendar​

  • Requirement: Google account (OAuth via backend)
  • Setup: Settings → Provider Accounts → Calendar → Connect Google
  • Features: Full calendar sync, Google Meet links, recurring events, attendees
  • OAuth: Sign in with Google; tokens managed server-side

Contact Providers​

Microsoft Outlook​

  • Requirement: Microsoft/Office 365 account
  • Setup: Settings → Provider Accounts → Contacts → Connect Microsoft
  • Features: Read, edit, add contacts; "Copy to Microsoft" (requires Contacts.ReadWrite)
  • OAuth: Contact access permissions

Sparks Cloud (CardDAV, hosted)​

  • Requirement / note: Same as calendar; shared mode with Nextcloud (your server) — not in parallel.

Nextcloud (CardDAV, your server)​

  • Requirement: Nextcloud with CardDAV
  • Setup: CardDAV URL, credentials
  • Features: Sync and edit contacts
  • URL: e.g. https://nextcloud.example.com/remote.php/dav/addressbooks/users/USER/CONTACTBOOK/

Open-Xchange​

  • Requirement: Open-Xchange account
  • Setup: OX server, credentials
  • Features: Read and edit contacts

Google (in development)​

  • Requirement: Google account
  • Setup: Settings → Provider Accounts → Contacts → Connect Google
  • Status: Google People API – implementation in progress

Task Providers (Planner)​

Microsoft Planner​

  • Requirement: Microsoft/Office 365 account with Planner
  • Setup: Settings → Provider Accounts → Tasks → Connect Microsoft
  • Features: Plans, buckets, tasks, assignments, due dates, priority, "Add to My Day", charts
  • Structure: Plan → Bucket → Task

Sparks Cloud (tasks, hosted)​

  • Requirement / note: Same as calendar; shared mode with Nextcloud (your server) — not in parallel.
  • Features: Graph-compatible planner scope with plans, buckets, tasks, priorities, and assignments.

Nextcloud Tasks (your server)​

  • Requirement: Nextcloud with Tasks app
  • Setup: Nextcloud connection
  • Features: Task lists, due dates, calendar-to-task mapping

Open-Xchange Tasks​

  • Requirement: Open-Xchange with Tasks
  • Setup: OX server
  • Features: Sync and manage tasks

Google Tasks (in development)​

  • Requirement: Google account
  • Setup: Settings → Provider Accounts → Tasks → Connect Google
  • Status: Google Tasks API – implementation in progress

Storage Providers​

Microsoft OneDrive​

  • Requirement: Microsoft/Office 365 account
  • Setup: Settings → Provider Accounts → Storage → Connect OneDrive
  • Features: Upload, share files, open from chat/channels

Sparks Cloud (file storage, hosted)​

  • Requirement: Sparks Cloud WebDAV enabled.
  • Setup: Connected accounts / Provider Accounts → Sparks Cloud; no separate WebDAV URL in the client.
  • Note: If Nextcloud (your server) is used for files, the Sparks Cloud row under file storage is disabled accordingly.

WebDAV / Nextcloud (your server)​

  • Requirement: WebDAV-capable server (e.g. Nextcloud, custom servers)
  • Setup: WebDAV URL, username, password
  • URL format: https://server.example.com/remote.php/webdav/ (Nextcloud)

Matrix (Chat)​

Matrix is the primary chat backend of Sparks – not an optional provider, but the basis of sign-in.

  • Matrix server: Provided by administrator or hosting
  • Features: End-to-end encryption, rooms, Spaces, reactions, files
  • No parallel connection: One Matrix account per Sparks session

Using an existing Matrix server (rooms and history already there)​

In the usual deployment you sign in with your organization login (OpenID Connect, e.g. Keycloak). The app then obtains a Matrix session on the homeserver your operator configured (tenant autoconfig). You do not import rooms manually: after sync, existing rooms and history appear in the chat list like in any Matrix client, as long as you are the same Matrix user (@localpart:domain) as before.

For operators (short checklist):

  1. Point tenant autoconfig at the correct homeserver URL (and homeserver type if you use Tuwunel vs. Synapse-style SSO).
  2. Align IdP and Matrix so each person keeps the same MXID as on the legacy Element/client.
  3. For web deployments, ensure the browser can call the Matrix API (CORS on the homeserver or reverse proxy).

Some organizations use a separate “legacy Synapse” mode (Matrix password against a fixed homeserver URL in org settings). That path is mainly for migration or special contracts; confirm with your operator whether it is enabled and how you are expected to sign in.

Microsoft Teams​

  • Requirement: Microsoft/Office 365 account
  • Setup: Connect Microsoft account (often together with calendar/contacts)
  • Features: Teams Chat (1:1), Teams Channels, channel list, posts, files
  • API: Microsoft Graph

Calls and Call Log​

  • Calls: Real-time video services, provided by administrator
  • Call Log: Data source depends on deployment:
    • Telephony / Conf backend (typical): Often OIDC; entries come from the organization's backend.
    • Vista Node (self-hosted, optional): With the local call-log feature enabled, the Vista node records participation rows (including Matrix room linkage); with PostgreSQL, entries and transcript sessions survive restarts.
  • Transcripts / meeting minutes:
    • Live captions during the meeting are separate from the persisted transcript in call history; persistence requires appropriate server setup (transcriber, database).
    • Who can read the stored transcript is configurable (e.g. only your own call-log row, or—if enabled—shared content for participants in the same Matrix room and overlapping time window).
    • After the meeting ends, the server can finalize sessions and clear in-memory buffers (video infrastructure room_finished webhook, optional grace period when the room is empty). See Vistameet-Teams server/.env.example for variables such as MEETING_TRANSCRIPT_LIFECYCLE, MEETING_EMPTY_ROOM_GRACE_MS, CALL_LOG_TRANSCRIPT_SCOPE.

Default Provider​

When multiple providers are connected, you can set a default provider in Settings. When creating new events, tasks, or contacts, this provider is suggested by default.