docs/master: summary.roff annotate

annotate summary.roff @ 236:49d3aa0d128a default tip

style: Removed unused macro code.

author	markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
date	Mon, 16 Jul 2012 11:31:25 +0200
parents	a1468cf505fd
children

rev	line source
161 72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	1 .H0 "Summary
132 8c56dac46efe Renamed Summary to Future of mmh; added some text fragments there. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 107 diff changeset	2 .P
161 72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	3 This document describes and explains my work on mmh.
190 2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	4 I have streamlined the project by removing programs, facilities,
178 520b3c7abba1 s/a MUA/an MUA/ markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 173 diff changeset	5 and options that diverted from the main task of mmh, being an MUA.
161 72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	6 I have modernized the code base removing obsolete functions and
72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	7 activating modern features per default.
190 2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	8 Furthermore, I have improved the style by refactoring clumpsy code
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	9 and by identifying and forcing clear concepts.
228 a1468cf505fd Spellchecked. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 222 diff changeset	10 All my work was motivated by Antoine de Saint Exup\[eacute]ry's
a1468cf505fd Spellchecked. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 222 diff changeset	11 well-known statement:
161 72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	12 .[
213 de8172bcdc5e Improvements and rework of various kind. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 200 diff changeset	13 antoine de saint exupery wind sand and stars
161 72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	14 .]
132 8c56dac46efe Renamed Summary to Future of mmh; added some text fragments there. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 107 diff changeset	15 .QS
8c56dac46efe Renamed Summary to Future of mmh; added some text fragments there. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 107 diff changeset	16 It seems that perfection is attained not when there is nothing
8c56dac46efe Renamed Summary to Future of mmh; added some text fragments there. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 107 diff changeset	17 more to add, but when there is nothing more to remove.
8c56dac46efe Renamed Summary to Future of mmh; added some text fragments there. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 107 diff changeset	18 .QE
190 2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	19 .LP
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	20 Against the common expectations, I hardly added new features.
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	21 I regard my achievement in the selection of the relevant set of existing
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	22 features, the choice of sensible defaults, and the extensive
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	23 focus on structure and concepts.
161 72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	24 I believe, the result is a system simpler and clearer for both
72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	25 developing and using, without lacking important functionality.
132 8c56dac46efe Renamed Summary to Future of mmh; added some text fragments there. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 107 diff changeset	26
190 2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	27 .KS
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	28 .in 1c
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	29 .so input/sloc.grap
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	30 .KE
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	31
132 8c56dac46efe Renamed Summary to Future of mmh; added some text fragments there. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 107 diff changeset	32
164 5c01017be420 Reacted to suggestions by Aaron Mueller. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 162 diff changeset	33 .U2 "Outlook
132 8c56dac46efe Renamed Summary to Future of mmh; added some text fragments there. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 107 diff changeset	34 .P
190 2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	35 MIME handling is the most complex part of mmh and the one with the
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	36 highest potential for improvements.
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	37 The changes already accomplished so far build upon the existing structure,
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	38 but deeper rework is necessary to integrate MIME handling consistently.
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	39 For instance, accessing messages and accessing their MIME parts
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	40 should both covered by a single approach.
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	41 This requires the sequence notation to provide a way to address
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	42 MIME parts directly.
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	43 In general, the sequence notation should become more powerful.
161 72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	44 For instance, it is currently not possible to access the second last
72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	45 message in a given sequence.
190 2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	46 Furthermore, displaying messages can be improved.
189 22feb390ccc4 Applied suggestions by Lydi. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 181 diff changeset	47 Encrypted messages should be decoded automatically
190 2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	48 and digital signatures verified on-the-fly.
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	49 In this rework, MH's unique features need to be preserved,
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	50 but as well the default behavior should become less surprising.
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	51 Still, encoding and decoding is not done everywhere it is necessary.
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	52 The problems of not decoded quotations of the original message in replies
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	53 and not encoded non-ASCII characters in the message header remain.
161 72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	54 .P
190 2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	55 Some of mmh's tools were hardly touched, yet.
161 72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	56 Among them are
72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	57 .Pn dist ,
72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	58 .Pn rcvdist ,
72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	59 .Pn mark ,
72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	60 .Pn pick ,
72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	61 and
72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	62 .Pn sortm .
190 2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	63 They should be refactored as well.
164 5c01017be420 Reacted to suggestions by Aaron Mueller. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 162 diff changeset	64 Related to
190 2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	65 .Pn sortm
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	66 is the threaded message view, which is completely missing, so far.
161 72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	67 .Pn pick
190 2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	68 could profit from message indexing.
189 22feb390ccc4 Applied suggestions by Lydi. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 181 diff changeset	69 These fields deserve further research.
161 72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	70 .P
190 2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	71 Nmh's testing framework has not been updated for mmh, yet.
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	72 All refactoring had been done without the safety net of a test framework.
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	73 Hence, experience warns that there may be subtle bugs in the code base.
222 2427d1dadb57 Small change in the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 213 diff changeset	74 As a consequence of the modularization rework (cf. Sec.
2427d1dadb57 Small change in the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 213 diff changeset	75 .Cf modularization ),
2427d1dadb57 Small change in the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 213 diff changeset	76 the compiler can no longer check the integrity of the interfaces
2427d1dadb57 Small change in the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 213 diff changeset	77 when tools invoke each other.
2427d1dadb57 Small change in the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 213 diff changeset	78 Automated testing should detect errors there.
190 2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	79 .P
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	80 The features most often asked for are IMAP and Maildir support.
189 22feb390ccc4 Applied suggestions by Lydi. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 181 diff changeset	81 But, both of them collide with MH in the same fundamental way as
228 a1468cf505fd Spellchecked. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 222 diff changeset	82 different file system approaches collide with Unix.
190 2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	83 Nevertheless, an abstraction layer could provide a mapping between such
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	84 storage back-ends and the MH storage format.
2443264b1745 Added sloccount graph to the summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 189 diff changeset	85 Or, the mmh tool chest could be reworked to operate on a generic back-end,
164 5c01017be420 Reacted to suggestions by Aaron Mueller. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 162 diff changeset	86 making the MH storage format only one of many possible back-ends.
161 72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	87 Research in this area is highly appreciated.
132 8c56dac46efe Renamed Summary to Future of mmh; added some text fragments there. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 107 diff changeset	88
8c56dac46efe Renamed Summary to Future of mmh; added some text fragments there. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 107 diff changeset	89
8c56dac46efe Renamed Summary to Future of mmh; added some text fragments there. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 107 diff changeset	90 .U2 "Relationship to nmh
8c56dac46efe Renamed Summary to Future of mmh; added some text fragments there. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 107 diff changeset	91 .P
161 72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	92 The mmh project started as an experimental version of nmh because the
192 68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	93 nmh community did not welcome my plans and visions.
68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	94 The need to convincing the community of every change I liked to
68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	95 undertake would have slowed down my work too much.
68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	96 Hence, I created this experimental version to convince by demonstration.
0 dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: diff changeset	97 .P
192 68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	98 While I worked on mmh, nmh's community became very active as well.
200 c299ed65d015 Spell checked. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 196 diff changeset	99 Although we both worked on the same code base, there was no collaboration.
192 68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	100 This, I must admit, was my failure because I kept my work hidden
68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	101 from the nmh community.
68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	102 The reasons are personal and community-related.
68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	103 I am sorry for that and I like to improve in the future.
196 a75de0da2fb7 summary: Improvements and cleanup. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 192 diff changeset	104 Nonetheless, I did not work behind completely closed doors.
a75de0da2fb7 summary: Improvements and cleanup. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 192 diff changeset	105 I discussed within the regional computer community and
a75de0da2fb7 summary: Improvements and cleanup. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 192 diff changeset	106 presented the project in two video-recorded lectures.
192 68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	107 .[
68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	108 chaosseminar ccc ulm mmh
68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	109 .]
68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	110 .[
68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	111 gpn entropia mmh
68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	112 .]
68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	113 First users appeared and provided feedback.
161 72ef1f2e58a3 More text for the Future/Summary chapter. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 158 diff changeset	114 .P
192 68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	115 Over time, I had to realize that, although nmh and mmh have much
68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	116 in common, the projects target different goals.
68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	117 I am still undecided how to handle it, but my experimental version
68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	118 more and more feels like being a fork.
196 a75de0da2fb7 summary: Improvements and cleanup. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 192 diff changeset	119 As I am strongly convinced that the path taken for the
a75de0da2fb7 summary: Improvements and cleanup. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 192 diff changeset	120 development of mmh is a good one,
192 68980dab3236 Rework of the Summary. markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> parents: 190 diff changeset	121 I like to push the project farther in this direction.

Mercurial > docs > master

annotate summary.roff @ 236:49d3aa0d128a default tip