annotate ch03.roff @ 55:89e7a32d1f10

bib: Added yet missing refs.
author markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
date Sun, 20 May 2012 21:46:00 +0200
parents 49cf68506b5d
children 814c33b96d89
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1 .H0 "Work Report
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2 .P
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3 foo
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4 .P
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5 bar
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6
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7 .H1 "Removal of Code Relicts
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8 .P
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9 The code base of mmh originates from the late Seventies,
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10 had been extensively
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11 worked on in the mid Eighties, and had been partly reorganized and extended
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12 in the Nineties. Relicts of all those times had gathered in the code base.
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13 My goal was to remove any ancient code parts. One part of the task was
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14 converting obsolete code constructs to standard constructs, the other part
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15 was dropping obsolete functions.
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16 .P
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17 As I'm not even thirty years old and have no more than seven years of
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18 Unix experience, I needed to learn about the history in retrospective.
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19 Older people likely have used those ancient constructs themselves
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20 and have suffered from their incompatibilities and have longed for
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21 standardization. Unfortunately, I have only read that others had done so.
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22 This put me in a much more difficult positions when working on the old
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23 code. I needed to recherche what other would have known by heart from
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24 experience. All my programming experience comes from a time past ANSI C
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25 and past POSIX. Although I knew about the times before, I took the
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26 current state implicitly for granted most of the time.
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27 .P
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28 Being aware of
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29 these facts, I rather let people with more historic experience solve the
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30 task of converting the ancient code constructs to standardized ones.
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31 Luckily, Lyndon Nerenberg focused on this task at the nmh project.
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32 He converted large parts of the code to POSIX constructs, removing
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33 the conditionals compilation for now standardized features.
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34 I'm thankful for this task being solved. I only pulled the changes into
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35 mmh.
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36 .P
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37 The other task \(en dropping ancient functionality to remove old code \(en
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38 I did myself, though. My position to strip mmh to the bare minimum of
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39 frequently used features is much more revolutional than the nmh community
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40 likes it. Without the need to justify my decisions, I was able to quickly
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41 remove functionality I considered ancient.
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42 The need to discuss my decisions with
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43 peers likely would have slowed this process down. Of course, I researched
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44 if a particular feature really should be dropped. Having not had any
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45 contact to this feature within my computer life was a first indicator to
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46 drop it, but I also asked others and searched the literature for modern
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47 usage of the feature. If it appeared to be truly ancient, I dropped it.
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48 The reason for dropping is always part of the commit message in the
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49 version control system. Thus, it is easy for others to check their
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50 view on the topic with mine and possibly to argue for reinclusion.
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51
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52 .U2 "MMDF maildrop support
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53 .P
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54 I did drop any support for the MMDF maildrop format. This type of format
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55 is conceptionally similar to the mbox format, but uses four bytes with
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56 value 1 (\fL^A^A^A^A\fP) as message delimiter,
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57 instead of the string ``\fLFrom\ \fP''.
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58 Due to the similarity and mbox being the de-facto standard maildrop
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59 format on Unix, but also due to the larger influence of Sendmail than MMDF,
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60 the MMDF maildrop format had vanished.
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61 .P
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62 The simplifications within the code were only moderate. Switches could
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63 be removed from tools like
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64 .L packf ,
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65 which generate packed mailboxes. Only one packed mailbox format remained:
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66 mbox.
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67 The most important changes affect the equally named mail parsing routine in
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68 .L sbr/m_getfld.c .
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69 The direct MMDF code had been removed, but as now only one packed mailbox
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70 format is left, code structure simplifications are likely possible.
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71 The reason why they are still outstanding is the heavily optimized code
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72 of
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73 .Fu m_getfld() .
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74 Changes beyond a small local scope \(en
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75 which restructuring in its core is \(en cause a high risk of damaging
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76 the intricate workings of the optimized code. This problem is know
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77 to the developers of nmh, too. They also avoid touching this minefield
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78 if possible.
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79
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80 .U2 "UUCP Bang Paths
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81 .P
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82 More questionably than the former topic is the removal of support for the
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83 UUCP bang path address style. However, the user may translate the bang
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84 paths on retrieval to Internet addresses and the other way on posting
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85 messages. The former can be done my an MDA like procmail; the latter
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86 by a sendmail wrapper. This would ensure that any address handling would
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87 work as expected. However, it might just work well without any
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88 such modifications, as mmh does not touch addresses much, in general.
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89 But I can't ensure as I have never used an environment with bang paths.
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90 Also, the behavior might break at any point in further development.
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91
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92 .U2 "Hardcopy terminal support
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93 .P
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94 More of a funny anecdote is the remaining of a check for printing to a
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95 hardcopy terminal until Spring 2012, when I finally removed it.
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96 I surely would be very happy to see such a terminal in action, maybe
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97 actually being able to work on it, but I fear my chances are null.
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98 .P
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99 The check only prevented a pager to be placed between the outputting
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100 program (\c
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101 .Pn mhl )
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102 and the terminal. This could have been ensured with
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103 the
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104 .Sw \-nomoreproc
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105 at the command line statically, too.
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106
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107 .U2 "Removed support for header fields
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108 .P
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109 The `Encrypted' header had been introduced by RFC\^822, but already
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110 marked legacy in RFC 2822. It was superseded by FIXME.
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111 Mmh does no more support this header.
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112 .P
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113 Native support for `Face' headers
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114 had been removed, as well.
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115 The feature is similar to the `X-Face' header in its intent,
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116 but takes a different approach to store the image.
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117 Instead of encoding the image data directly into the header,
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118 the the header contains the hostname and UDP port where the image
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119 date could be retrieved.
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120 Neither `X-Face' nor the here described `Face' system
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121 \**
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122 .FS
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123 There is also a newer but different system, invented 2005,
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124 using `Face' headers.
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125 It is the successor of `X-Face' providing colored PNG images.
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126 .FE
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127 became well used in the large scale.
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128 It's still possible to use a Face systems,
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129 although mmh does not provide support for any of the different systems
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130 anymore. It's fairly easy to write a small shell script to
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131 extract the embedded or fetch the external Face data and display the image.
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132 Own Face headers can be added into the draft template files.
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133 .P
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134 `Content-MD5' headers were introduced by RFC\^1864. They provide only
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135 a verification of data corruption during the transfer. By no means can
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136 they ensure verbatim end-to-end delivery of the contents. This is clearly
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137 stated in the RFC. The proper approach to provide verificationability
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138 of content in an end-to-end relationship is the use of digital cryptography
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139 (RFCs FIXME). On the other hand, transfer protocols should ensure the
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140 integrity of the transmission. In combinations these two approaches
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141 make the `Content-MD5' header field useless. In consequence, I removed
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142 the support for it. By this removal, MD5 computation is not needed
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143 anywhere in mmh. Hence, over 500 lines of code were removed by this one
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144 change. Even if the `Content-MD5' header field is useful sometimes,
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145 I value its usefulnes less than the improvement in maintainability, caused
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146 by the removal.
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147
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148 .U2 "Prompter's Control Keys
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149 .P
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150 The program
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151 .Pn prompter
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152 queries the user to fill in a message form. When used by
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153 .Pn comp
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154 as:
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155 .DS
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156 comp \-editor prompter
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157 .DE
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158 the resulting behavior is similar to
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159 .Pn mailx .
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160 Apparently,
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161 .Pn prompter
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162 hadn't been touched lately. Otherwise it's hardly explainable why it
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163 still offered the switches
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164 .Sn \-erase \fUchr\fP
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165 and
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166 .Sn \-kill \fUchr\fP
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167 to name the characters for command line editing.
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168 The times when this had been necessary are long time gone.
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169 Today these things work out-of-the-box, and if not, are configured
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170 with the standard tool
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171 .Pn stty .
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172
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173 .U2 "Vfork and Retry Loops
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174 .P
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175 MH creates many processes, which is a consequence of the tool chest approach.
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176 In earlier times
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177 .Fu fork()
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178 had been an expensive system call, as the process's whole image needed
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179 to be duplicated. One common case is replacing the image with
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180 .Fu exec()
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181 right after having forked the child process.
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182 To speed up this case, the
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183 .Fu vfork()
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184 system call was invented at Berkeley. It completely omits copying the
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185 image. If the image gets replaced right afterwards then unnecessary
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186 work is omited. On old systems this results in large speed ups.
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187 MH uses
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188 .Fu vfork()
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189 whenever possible.
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190 .P
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191 Memory management units that support copy-on-write semantics make
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192 .Fu fork()
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193 almost as fast as
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194 .Fu vfork()
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195 in the cases when they can be exchanged.
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196 With
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197 .Fu vfork()
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198 being more error-prone and hardly faster, it's preferable to simply
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199 use
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200 .Fu fork()
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201 instead.
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202 .P
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203 Related to the costs of
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204 .Fu fork()
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205 is the probability of its success.
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206 Today on modern systems, the system call will succeed almost always.
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207 In the Eighties on heavy loaded systems, as they were common at
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208 universities, this had been different. Thus, many of the
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209 .Fu fork()
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210 calls were wrapped into loops to retry to fork several times in
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211 short intervals, in case of previous failure.
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212 In mmh, the program aborts at once if the fork failed.
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213 The user can reexecute the command then. This is expected to be a
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214 very rare case on modern systems, especially personal ones, which are
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215 common today.
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216
12
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217
22
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218 .H1 "Removal of Tools
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219 .P
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220 MH had been considered an all-in-one system for mail handling.
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221 The community around nmh has a similar understanding.
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222 In fundamental difference, I believe that mmh should be a MUA but
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223 nothing more. I believe that all-in-one mail systems are not the way
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224 to go. There are excellent specialized MTAs, like Postfix;
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225 there are specialized MDAs, like Procmail; there are specialized
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226 MRAs, like Fetchmail. I believe it's best to use them instead of
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227 providing the same function ourselves. Doing something well requires to
22
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228 focus on this particular aspect or a small set of aspects. The more
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229 it is possible to focus, the better the result in this particular
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230 area will be. The limiting resource in Free Software community development
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231 usually is human power. If the low development power is even parted
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232 into multiple development areas, it will hardly be possible to
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233 compete with the specialists in the various fields. This is even
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234 increased, given the small community \(en developers and users \(en
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235 that MH-based mail systems have. In consequence, I believe that the
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236 available resources should be concentrated at the point where MH is
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237 most unique. This is clearly the MUA part.
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238 .P
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239 Several of nmh's tools were removed from mmh because they didn't
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240 match the main focus of adding to the MUA's task.
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241 .P
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242 .Pn conflict
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243 was removed because it is a mail system maintenance tool.
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244 Besides, it also checks the
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245 .Fn /etc/passwd
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246 and
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247 .Fn /etc/group
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248 files.
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249 The tool might be useful, but it should not be shipped with mmh.
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250 .P
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251 .Pn rcvtty
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252 was removed because its usecase of writing to the user's terminal
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253 on receiving of mail is hardly wanted today. If users like to be
22
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254 informed of new mail, then using the shell's
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255 .Ev MAILPATH
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256 variable or different (graphical) notifications are likely more
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257 appealing. Writing directly to other terminals is hardly ever wanted
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258 today. If though one wants to have it this way, the standard tool
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259 .Pn write
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260 can be used in a way similar to:
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261 .DS
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262 scan -file - | write `id -un`
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263 .DE
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264 .P
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265 When the new attachment system was introduced,
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266 .Pn viamail
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267 was removed because then
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268 .Pn forw
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269 could cover the task itself.
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270 The wrapper program
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271 .Pn sendfiles
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272 was rewritten as a shell script to use
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273 .Pn forw .
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274 .P
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275 .Pn msgchk
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276 was removed as it became hardly useful when POP support was removed.
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277 It is questionable if
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278 .Pn msgchk
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diff changeset
279 provides more information than:
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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280 .DS
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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diff changeset
281 ls -l /var/mail/meillo
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282 .DE
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diff changeset
283 It does separate between old and new mail, but that's not very
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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diff changeset
284 useful and can be found out with
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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diff changeset
285 .Pn stat (1)
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diff changeset
286 too. A very small shell script could care for the form of output.
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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diff changeset
287 As mmh's inc only incorporates mail from the user's local maildrop
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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diff changeset
288 and thus no long data transfers are involved,
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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diff changeset
289 there's no need to check for new mail before incorporating it.
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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diff changeset
290 .P
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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diff changeset
291 .Pn msh
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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diff changeset
292 was removed because the tool was in conflict with the original
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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293 philosophy of MH. It provided an interactive shell to access the
51
49cf68506b5d Spell checking.
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diff changeset
294 features of MH. One major feature of MH is being a tool chest.
22
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295 .Pn msh
51
49cf68506b5d Spell checking.
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diff changeset
296 wouldn't be just another shell, tailored to the needs of mail
22
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diff changeset
297 handling, but one large program to have the MH tools built in.
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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diff changeset
298 It's main use was for accessing Bulletin Boards, which have seized to
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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diff changeset
299 be popular. Removing
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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300 .Pn msh ,
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diff changeset
301 together with the truly obsolete programs
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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diff changeset
302 .Pn vmh
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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diff changeset
303 and
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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304 .Pn wmh ,
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305 saved more than 7\|000 lines of C code \(en a major achievement.
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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diff changeset
306
99409e4546d2 Wrote about the removal of tools.
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diff changeset
307
14
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308 .H1 "Draft and Trash Folders
16
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
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diff changeset
309 .U2 "Draft Folder
14
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310 .P
18
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diff changeset
311 Historically, MH provided exactly one draft message, named
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
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312 .Fn draft
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
313 and
14
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
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diff changeset
314 being located in the MH directory. When starting to compose another message
51
49cf68506b5d Spell checking.
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diff changeset
315 before the former one was sent, the user had been questioned whether to use,
14
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
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diff changeset
316 refile or replace the old draft. Working on multiple drafts at the same time
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
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diff changeset
317 was impossible. One could only work on them in alteration by refiling the
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
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diff changeset
318 previous one to some directory and fetching some other one for reediting.
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
319 This manual draft management needed to be done each time the user wanted
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
320 to switch between editing one draft to editing another.
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
321 .P
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
322 To allow true parallel editing of drafts, in a straight forward way, the
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
323 draft folder facility exists. It had been introduced already in July 1984
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
324 by Marshall T. Rose. The facility was deactivated by default.
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
325 Even in nmh, the draft folder facility remained deactivated by default.
18
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
326 At least, Richard Coleman added the man page
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
327 .Mp mh-draft(5)
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
328 to document
14
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
329 the feature well.
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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330 .P
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
331 The only advantage of not using the draft folder facility is the static
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
332 name of the draft file. This could be an issue for MH frontends like mh-e.
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
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diff changeset
333 But as they likely want to provide working on multiple drafts in parallel,
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
334 the issue is only concerning compatibility. The aim of nmh to stay compatible
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
335 prevented the default activation of the draft folder facility.
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
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diff changeset
336 .P
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
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diff changeset
337 On the other hand, a draft folder is the much more natural concept than
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
338 a draft message. MH's mail storage consists of folders and messages,
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
339 the messages named with ascending numbers. A draft message breaks with this
18
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
340 concept by introducing a message in a file named
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
341 .Fn draft .
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
342 This draft
14
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
343 message is special. It can not be simply listed with the available tools,
17
b3c37947764e Several minor text improvements.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
344 but instead requires special switches. I.e. corner-cases were
14
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
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diff changeset
345 introduced. A draft folder, in contrast, does not introduce such
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
346 corner-cases. The available tools can operate on the messages within that
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 12
diff changeset
347 folder like on any messages within any mail folders. The only difference
18
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
348 is the fact that the default folder for
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
349 .Pn send
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
350 is the draft folder,
14
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 12
diff changeset
351 instead of the current folder, like for all other tools.
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
352 .P
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 12
diff changeset
353 The trivial part of the change was activating the draft folder facility
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
354 by default and setting a default name for this folder. Obviously, I chose
18
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
355 the name
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
356 .Fn +drafts .
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
357 This made the
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
358 .Sw \-draftfolder
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
359 and
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
360 .Sw \-draftmessage
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
361 switches useless, and I could remove them.
14
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 12
diff changeset
362 The more difficult but also the part that showed the real improvement,
18
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
363 was updating the tools to the new concept.
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
364 .Sw \-draft
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
365 switches could
14
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 12
diff changeset
366 be dropped, as operating on a draft message became indistinguishable to
18
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
367 operating on any other message for the tools.
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
368 .Pn comp
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
369 still has its
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
370 .Sw \-use
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
371 switch for switching between its two modes: (1) Compose a new
14
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 12
diff changeset
372 draft, possibly by taking some existing message as a form. (2) Modify
18
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
373 an existing draft. In either case, the behavior of
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
374 .Pn comp is
14
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 12
diff changeset
375 deterministic. There is no more need to query the user. I consider this
18
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
376 a major improvement. By making
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
377 .Pn send
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
378 simply operate on the current
17
b3c37947764e Several minor text improvements.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 16
diff changeset
379 message in the draft folder by default, with message and folder both
14
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 12
diff changeset
380 overridable by specifying them on the command line, it is now possible
17
b3c37947764e Several minor text improvements.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 16
diff changeset
381 to send a draft anywhere within the storage by simply specifying its folder
b3c37947764e Several minor text improvements.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 16
diff changeset
382 and name.
14
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 12
diff changeset
383 .P
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 12
diff changeset
384 All theses changes converted special cases to regular cases, thus
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 12
diff changeset
385 simplifying the tools and increasing the flexibility.
55ec590cfa07 Wrote about the draft folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 12
diff changeset
386
16
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
387 .U2 "Trash Folder
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
388 .P
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
389 Similar to the situation for drafts is the situation for removed messages.
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
390 Historically, a message was deleted by renaming. A specific
18
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
391 \fIbackup prefix\fP, often comma (\c
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
392 .Fn , )
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
393 or hash (\c
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
394 .Fn # ),
16
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
395 being prepended to the file name. Thus, MH wouldn't recognize the file
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
396 as a message anymore, as only files whose name consists of digits only
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
397 are treated as messages. The removed messages remained as files in the
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
398 same directory and needed some maintenance job to truly delete them after
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
399 some grace time. Usually, by running a command similar to
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
400 .DS
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
401 find /home/user/Mail \-ctime +7 \-name ',*' | xargs rm
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
402 .DE
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
403 in a cron job. Within the grace time interval
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
404 the original message could be restored by stripping the
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
405 the backup prefix from the file name. If however, the last message of
18
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
406 a folder is been removed \(en say message
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
407 .Fn 6
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
408 becomes file
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
409 .Fn ,6
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
410 \(en and a new message enters the same folder, thus the same
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
411 numbered being given again \(en in our case
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
412 .Fn 6
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
413 \(en, if that one
17
b3c37947764e Several minor text improvements.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 16
diff changeset
414 is removed too, then the backup of the former message gets overwritten.
16
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
415 Thus, the ability to restore removed messages does not only depend on
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
416 the ``sweeping cron job'' but also on the removing of further messages.
51
49cf68506b5d Spell checking.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 49
diff changeset
417 This is undesirable, because the real mechanism is hidden from the user
49cf68506b5d Spell checking.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 49
diff changeset
418 and the consequences of further removals are not always obvious.
16
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diff changeset
419 Further more, the backup files are scattered within the whole mail
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
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diff changeset
420 storage, instead of being collected at one place.
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421 .P
18
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
422 To improve the situation, the profile entry
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
423 .Pe rmmproc
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
424 (previously named
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
425 .Pe Delete-Prog )
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
426 was introduced, very early.
16
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parents: 14
diff changeset
427 It could be set to any command, which would care for the mail removal
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
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diff changeset
428 instead of taking the default action, described above.
51
49cf68506b5d Spell checking.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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429 Refiling the to-be-removed files to some garbage folder was a common
18
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
430 example. Nmh's man page
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
431 .Mp rmm(1)
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
432 proposes
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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433 .Cl "refile +d
51
49cf68506b5d Spell checking.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 49
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434 to move messages to the garbage folder and
18
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
435 .Cl "rm `mhpath +d all`
51
49cf68506b5d Spell checking.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 49
diff changeset
436 the empty the garbage folder.
16
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
437 Managing the message removal this way is a sane approach. It keeps
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
438 the removed messages in one place, makes it easy to remove the backup
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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439 files, and, most important, enables the user to use the tools of MH
18
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
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440 itself to operate on the removed messages. One can
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441 .Pn scan
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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442 them,
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
443 .Pn show
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
444 them, and restore them with
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
445 .Pn refile .
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
446 There's no more
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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447 need to use
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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448 .Pn mhpath
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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449 to switch over from MH tools to Unix tools \(en MH can do it all itself.
16
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
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450 .P
51
49cf68506b5d Spell checking.
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451 This approach matches perfect with the concepts of MH, thus making
16
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
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diff changeset
452 it powerful. Hence, I made it the default. And even more, I also
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
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diff changeset
453 removed the old backup prefix approach, as it is clearly less powerful.
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454 Keeping unused alternative in the code is a bad choice as they likely
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 14
diff changeset
455 gather bugs, by not being constantly tested. Also, the increased code
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
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456 size and more conditions crease the maintenance costs. By strictly
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
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diff changeset
457 converting to the trash folder approach, I simplified the code base.
18
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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458 .Pn rmm
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 17
diff changeset
459 calls
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
460 .Pn refile
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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461 internally to move the to-be-removed
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
462 message to the trash folder (\c
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
463 .Fn +trash
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
464 by default). Messages
16
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
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diff changeset
465 there can be operated on like on any other message in the storage.
18
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
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466 The sweep clean, one can use
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
467 .Cl "rmm \-unlink +trash a" ,
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
468 where the
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
469 .Sw \-unlink
db3567c9cc3f style: Added format macros for files, functions, switches, etc.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
470 switch causes the files to be truly unliked instead
16
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
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diff changeset
471 of moved to the trash folder.
81f703140554 Wrote about the trash folder.
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diff changeset
472
0
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
473
17
b3c37947764e Several minor text improvements.
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474 .H1 "MH Directory Split
0
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
475 .P
19
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diff changeset
476 In MH and nmh, a personal setup had consisted of two parts:
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
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diff changeset
477 The MH profile, named
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diff changeset
478 .Fn \&.mh_profile
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diff changeset
479 and being located directly in the user's home directory.
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diff changeset
480 And the MH directory, where all his mail messages and also his personal
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diff changeset
481 forms, scan formats, other configuration files are stored. The location
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482 of this directory could be user-chosen. The default was to name it
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
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diff changeset
483 .Fn Mail
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diff changeset
484 and have it directly in the home directory.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
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diff changeset
485 .P
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
486 I've never liked the data storage and the configuration to be intermixed.
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diff changeset
487 They are different kinds of data. One part, are the messages,
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
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diff changeset
488 which are the data to operate on. The other part, are the personal
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diff changeset
489 configuration files, which are able to change the behavior of the operations.
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diff changeset
490 The actual operations are defined in the profile, however.
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diff changeset
491 .P
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diff changeset
492 When storing data, one should try to group data by its type.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
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diff changeset
493 There's sense in the Unix file system hierarchy, where configuration
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diff changeset
494 file are stored separate (\c
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diff changeset
495 .Fn /etc )
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diff changeset
496 to the programs (\c
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
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diff changeset
497 .Fn /bin
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
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parents: 18
diff changeset
498 and
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
499 .Fn /usr/bin )
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
500 to their sources (\c
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
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diff changeset
501 .Fn /usr/src ).
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
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parents: 18
diff changeset
502 Such separation eases the backup management, for instance.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
503 .P
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
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diff changeset
504 In mmh, I've reorganized the file locations.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
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parents: 18
diff changeset
505 Still there are two places:
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
506 There's the mail storage directory, which, like in MH, contains all the
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
507 messages, but, unlike in MH, nothing else.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
508 Its location still is user-chosen, with the default name
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
509 .Fn Mail ,
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
510 in the user's home directory. This is much similar to the case in nmh.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
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diff changeset
511 The configuration files, however, are grouped together in the new directory
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
512 .Fn \&.mmh
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
513 in the user's home directory.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
514 The user's profile now is a file, named
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
515 .Fn profile ,
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
516 in this mmh directory.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
517 Consistently, the context file and all the personal forms, scan formats,
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
518 and the like, are also there.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
519 .P
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
520 The naming changed with the relocation.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
521 The directory where everything, except the profile, had been stored (\c
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
522 .Fn $HOME/Mail ),
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
523 used to be called \fIMH directory\fP. Now, this directory is called the
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
524 user's \fImail storage\fP. The name \fImmh directory\fP is now given to
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
525 the new directory
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
526 (\c
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
527 .Fn $HOME/.mmh ),
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
528 containing all the personal configuration files.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
529 .P
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
530 The separation of the files by type of content is logical and convenient.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
531 There are no functional differences as any possible setup known to me
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
532 can be implemented with both approaches, although likely a bit easier
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
533 with the new approach. The main goal of the change had been to provide
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
534 sensible storage locations for any type of personal mmh file.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
535 .P
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
536 In order for one user to have multiple MH setups, he can use the
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
537 environment variable
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
538 .Ev MH
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
539 the point to a different profile file.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
540 The MH directory (mail storage plus personal configuration files) is
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
541 defined by the
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
542 .Pe Path
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
543 profile entry.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
544 The context file could be defined by the
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
545 .Pe context
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
546 profile entry or by the
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
547 .Ev MHCONTEXT
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
548 environment variable.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
549 The latter is useful to have a distinct context (e.g. current folders)
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
550 in each terminal window, for instance.
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
551 In mmh, there are three environment variables now.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
552 .Ev MMH
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
553 may be used to change the location of the mmh directory.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
554 .Ev MMHP
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
555 and
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
556 .Ev MMHC
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
557 change the profile and context files, respectively.
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
558 Besides providing a more consistent feel (which simply is the result
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
559 of being designed anew), the set of personal configuration files can
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
560 be chosen independently from the profile (including mail storage location)
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
561 and context, now. Being it relevant for practical use or not, it
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markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
562 de-facto is an improvement. However, the main achievement is the
ab5253e48c74 Wrote about the directory split.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 18
diff changeset
563 split between mail storage and personal configuration files.
17
b3c37947764e Several minor text improvements.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 16
diff changeset
564
0
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
565
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
566 .H1 "Path Notations
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
567 .P
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
568 foo
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
569
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
570 .H1 "Attachments
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
571 .P
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
572 foo
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
573
20
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
574 .H1 "mhshow to show Transition
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
575 .P
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
576 Since the very beginning, already in the first concept paper,
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
577 .Pn show
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
578 had been MH's mail display program.
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
579 .Pn show
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
580 found out which pathnames the relevant messages had and invoked
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
581 .Pn mhl
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
582 then to let it render the content.
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
583 With the advent of MIME, this approach wasn't sufficient anymore.
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
584 MIME messages can consist of multiple parts, some of which aren't
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
585 directly displayable, and text content can be encoded in
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
586 foreign charsets.
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
587 .Pn show 's
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
588 simple approach and
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
589 .Pn mhl 's
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
590 limited display facilities couldn't cope with the task any longer.
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
591 Instead of extending these tools, new ones were written from scratch
51
49cf68506b5d Spell checking.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 49
diff changeset
592 and then added to the MH tool chest. Doing so is encouraged by the
49cf68506b5d Spell checking.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 49
diff changeset
593 tool chest approach. The new tools could be added without interfering
20
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
594 with the existing ones. This is great. It allowed MH to be the
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
595 first MUA to implement MIME.
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
596 .P
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
597 The new MIME features were added in form of the single program
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
598 .Pn mhn .
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
599 The command
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
600 .DS
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
601 mhn \-show 42
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
602 .DE
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
603 would show the MIME message numbered 42.
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
604 With the 1.0 release of nmh in February 1999, Richard Coleman finished
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
605 the split of
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
606 .Pn mhn
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
607 into a set of specialized programs, which together covered the
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
608 aspects of MIME. One of these resulting tools was
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
609 .Pn mhshow .
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
610
7a100c80fa91 Some new text (show/mhshow; prompter).
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 19
diff changeset
611
0
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
612 .H1 "Blind Carbon Copies
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
613 .P
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
614 foo
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
615
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
616 .H1 "Good Defaults
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
617 .P
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
618 foo
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
619
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
620 .H1 "Modularization
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
621 .P
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
622 foo
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
623
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
624 .H1 "Code style
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
625 .P
dc2bfef4cda7 Initial commit: Basic structure, macros and fonts.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents:
diff changeset
626 foo
49
d3a02f5e63b3 Various rework.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 23
diff changeset
627
d3a02f5e63b3 Various rework.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 23
diff changeset
628
d3a02f5e63b3 Various rework.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 23
diff changeset
629
d3a02f5e63b3 Various rework.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 23
diff changeset
630 (e.g. the
d3a02f5e63b3 Various rework.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 23
diff changeset
631 user-visible access to whole messages and MIME parts are inherently
d3a02f5e63b3 Various rework.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 23
diff changeset
632 different).
d3a02f5e63b3 Various rework.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 23
diff changeset
633
d3a02f5e63b3 Various rework.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 23
diff changeset
634 The \fIMH library\fP
d3a02f5e63b3 Various rework.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 23
diff changeset
635 .Fn libmh.a
d3a02f5e63b3 Various rework.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 23
diff changeset
636 collects a bunch of standard functions that many of the MH tools need,
d3a02f5e63b3 Various rework.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 23
diff changeset
637 like reading the profile or context files.
d3a02f5e63b3 Various rework.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 23
diff changeset
638 This doesn't hurt the separation.
d3a02f5e63b3 Various rework.
markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
parents: 23
diff changeset
639