Mercurial > docs > master
comparison preface.roff @ 106:3c4e5f0a7e7b
Included (English language) corrections by Kate.
author | markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de> |
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date | Sat, 23 Jun 2012 22:08:17 +0200 |
parents | 7d5b180de542 |
children | 0e102cec0c73 |
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13 and editing already, it was not too difficult. | 13 and editing already, it was not too difficult. |
14 In contrast, setting up nmh to a convenient state became a tedious task | 14 In contrast, setting up nmh to a convenient state became a tedious task |
15 that took several months. | 15 that took several months. |
16 Once having nmh arranged to a convenient state, I enjoyed using it | 16 Once having nmh arranged to a convenient state, I enjoyed using it |
17 because of its conceptional elegance and its scripting capabilities. | 17 because of its conceptional elegance and its scripting capabilities. |
18 Nevertheless, it still was inconvenient for handling attachments, | 18 Nevertheless, it was still inconvenient for handling attachments, |
19 non-ASCII character encodings, and similar features of modern emailing. | 19 non-ASCII character encodings, and similar features of modern emailing. |
20 My setup demanded more and more additional configuration and helper scripts | 20 My setup demanded more and more additional configuration and helper scripts |
21 to have nmh behave the way I wanted; yet my | 21 to have nmh behave the way I wanted; yet my |
22 expectations were rather common for modern emailing. | 22 expectations were rather common for modern emailing. |
23 In being a computer scientist and programmer, | 23 As a computer scientist and programmer, I wanted to improve the situation. |
24 I wanted to improve the situation. | 24 .P |
25 .P | 25 In Spring 2010, I sent a message to the \fInmh-workers\fP mailing list, |
26 In Spring 2010, I asked on the \fInmh-workers\fP mailing list for the | 26 asking for the possibility to offer a Google Summer of Code project for me. |
27 possibility to offer a Google Summer of Code project for me. | 27 Participating in the development of nmh in this manner appeared attractive |
28 Participating in the development of nmh this way appeared attractive to me, | 28 to me, because I would have been able to work full time on nmh. |
29 because I would have been able to work full time on nmh. | 29 Although the nmh community had reacted generally positive to the suggestion, |
30 Although the nmh community had been generally positive on the suggestion, | 30 the administrative work for a GSoC project would had been too much. |
31 the administrative work for a GSoC project had been to much to have | 31 Nonetheless, my proposal had activated the nmh community. |
32 it realized. | |
33 Nontheless, my proposal had activated the nmh community. | |
34 In the following weeks, goals for nmh's future were discussed. | 32 In the following weeks, goals for nmh's future were discussed. |
35 In these discussions, I became involved in the | 33 In these discussions, I became involved in the |
36 question whether nmh should include mail transfer facilities. | 34 question whether nmh should include mail transfer facilities. |
37 .[ | 35 .[ |
38 nmh-workers thread mta mua | 36 nmh-workers thread mta mua |
47 Half a year later, starting in August 2010, | 45 Half a year later, starting in August 2010, |
48 I took one semester off to travel through Latin America. | 46 I took one semester off to travel through Latin America. |
49 During my time in Argentina, I wanted to work on Free Software. | 47 During my time in Argentina, I wanted to work on Free Software. |
50 This brought me back to nmh. | 48 This brought me back to nmh. |
51 Richard Sandelman, an active nmh user, cared for the official basis. | 49 Richard Sandelman, an active nmh user, cared for the official basis. |
52 Juan Granda, an argentine Free Software developer, | 50 Juan Granda, an Argentine Free Software developer, |
53 provided a computer with Internet connection. | 51 provided a computer with Internet connection. |
54 Thanks to them, I was able to work on nmh during my three-month | 52 Thanks to them, I was able to work on nmh during my three-month |
55 stay in Santiago del Estero, Argentina. | 53 stay in Santiago del Estero, Argentina. |
56 Quickly it became obvious that I wouldn't succeed with my main goal, | 54 Quickly it became obvious that I would not succeed with my main goal, |
57 to improve the character encoding handling. | 55 to improve the character encoding handling. |
58 (One of its ramifications is the | 56 (One of its ramifications is the |
59 missing transfer decoding of quoted text in replies.) | 57 missing transfer decoding of quoted text in replies.) |
60 As this is one of the most intricate parts of the system, the goal | 58 As this is one of the most intricate parts of the system, the goal |
61 was simply set too high. | 59 was simply set too high. |
64 In the same go, I improved the documentation in minor ways. | 62 In the same go, I improved the documentation in minor ways. |
65 When I started with larger code changes, | 63 When I started with larger code changes, |
66 I had to discover that the community was reluctant to change. | 64 I had to discover that the community was reluctant to change. |
67 Its wish for compatibility was much stronger than its | 65 Its wish for compatibility was much stronger than its |
68 wish for convenient out-of-the-box setups \(en in contrast to my opinion. | 66 wish for convenient out-of-the-box setups \(en in contrast to my opinion. |
69 This led to long discussions, again. | 67 This, once again, led to long discussions. |
70 I came to understand their point of view, but it was different to mine. | 68 I came to understand their point of view, but it was different to mine. |
71 At the end of my three-month project, I had become familiar with | 69 At the end of my three-month project, I had become familiar with |
72 nmh's code base and community, | 70 nmh's code base and community, |
73 I had improved the project in minor ways, | 71 I had improved the project in minor ways, |
74 and I still was convinced that I wanted to continue to do so. | 72 and I still was convinced that I wanted to continue to do so. |
75 .P | 73 .P |
76 Another half year later, the end of my studies came within reach. | 74 Another half year later, the end of my studies came within reach. |
77 I needed a topic for my master's thesis. | 75 I needed a topic for my master's thesis. |
78 No question, I wanted to work on nmh. | 76 Without question, I wanted to work on nmh. |
79 But well, not exactly on nmh, because I had accepted that the | 77 But not exactly on nmh, because I had accepted that its |
80 nmh community has different goals than I have. | 78 community has different goals than I have. |
81 Working on nmh would result in much discussion and, in consequence, | 79 Working on nmh would result in much discussion and, in consequence, |
82 little progress. | 80 little progress. |
83 After careful thought, I decided to start an experimental version of nmh. | 81 After careful thought, I decided to start an experimental version of nmh. |
84 I wanted to implement my own ideas of how an MH-like system should look like. | 82 I wanted to implement my own ideas of how an MH-like system should look like. |
85 I wanted to create a usable alternative version to be compared with | 83 I wanted to create a usable alternative version to be compared with |
92 This document explains the design goals and implementation decisions | 90 This document explains the design goals and implementation decisions |
93 for mmh. | 91 for mmh. |
94 It discusses technical, historical, social and philosophical considerations. | 92 It discusses technical, historical, social and philosophical considerations. |
95 On the technical side, this document | 93 On the technical side, this document |
96 explains how an existing project was stream-lined by removing rough edges | 94 explains how an existing project was stream-lined by removing rough edges |
97 and exploiting the central concepts better. | 95 and better exploitation of the central concepts. |
98 On the historical | 96 On the historical side, changes through time are discussed, |
99 side, changes through time in the use cases and the email features, | 97 regarding the use cases and the email features, |
100 as well as the reactions to them, are discussed. | 98 as well as the reactions to them. |
101 Socially, this document describes the effects | 99 Socially, this document describes the effects |
102 and experiences of a newcomer with revolutionary aims entering an old | 100 and experiences of a newcomer with revolutionary aims entering an old |
103 and matured software project. | 101 and matured software project. |
104 Philosophical thoughts on style, mainly based to the Unix | 102 Philosophical thoughts on style, mainly based on the Unix |
105 philosophy, are present throughout the discussions. | 103 philosophy, are present throughout the discussions. |
106 The document describes the changes to nmh, | 104 The document describes the changes to nmh, |
107 but as well, it clarifies my personal perception of the | 105 but as well, it clarifies my personal perception of the |
108 concepts of MH and Unix, and explain my therefrom resulting point of view. | 106 concepts of MH and Unix, and explain my therefrom resulting point of view. |
109 .P | 107 .P |
110 This document is written for the community around MH-like mail systems, | 108 This document is written for the community around MH-like mail systems, |
111 including developers and users. | 109 including developers and users. |
112 Despite the focus on MH-like systems, this document is may be precious | 110 Despite the focus on MH-like systems, this document may be valuable |
113 to anyone interested in the Unix philosophy and anyone in contact to | 111 to anyone interested in the Unix philosophy and anyone in contact with |
114 old software projects, be it code or community-related. | 112 old software projects, be it code- or community-related. |
115 .P | 113 .P |
116 The reader is expected to be well familiar with Unix, C and emailing. | 114 The reader is expected to be familiar with Unix, C and emailing. |
117 Good Unix shell knowledge is required, because MH relies fundamentally | 115 Good Unix shell knowledge is required, because MH relies fundamentally |
118 on the shell. Without the power of the shell, MH becomes a motorbike | 116 on the shell. Without the power of the shell, MH becomes a motorbike |
119 without winding roads: boring. | 117 without winding roads: boring. |
120 Introductions to Unix and its shell can be found in ``The UNIX Programming | 118 Introductions to Unix and its shell can be found in ``The UNIX Programming |
121 Environment'' by Kernighan and Pike | 119 Environment'' by Kernighan and Pike |
131 The definitive guide to C is Kernighan and Ritchie's | 129 The definitive guide to C is Kernighan and Ritchie's |
132 ``The C Programming Language''. | 130 ``The C Programming Language''. |
133 .[ | 131 .[ |
134 kernighan ritchie c prog lang | 132 kernighan ritchie c prog lang |
135 .] | 133 .] |
136 Some book about system-level C programming can be helpful | 134 A book about system-level C programming can be helpful |
137 additional literature. Rochkind and Curry have written such books. | 135 additional literature, such as those written by Rochkind and Curry. |
138 .[ | 136 .[ |
139 rochkind advanced unix prog | 137 rochkind advanced unix prog |
140 .] | 138 .] |
141 .[ | 139 .[ |
142 curry system prog | 140 curry system prog |
143 .] | 141 .] |
144 As large parts of the source code are old, | 142 Old books are likely more helpful for understanding, |
145 old books are likely more helpful for understanding. | 143 because large parts of the source code are old. |
146 The reader is expected to know the format of email messages and | 144 The reader is expected to know the format of email messages and |
147 the structure of email transfer systems, at least on a basic level. | 145 the structure of email transfer systems, at least on a basic level. |
148 It's advisable to have cross-read the RFCs 821 and 822. | 146 It's advisable to have cross-read the RFCs 821 and 822. |
149 Further more, basic understanding of MIME is good to have. | 147 Further more, basic understanding of MIME is good to have. |
150 The Wikipedia provides good introduction-level information to email. | 148 The Wikipedia provides good introduction-level information about email. |
151 .P | 149 .P |
152 Frequent references to the Unix philosophy will be made. | 150 Frequent references to the Unix philosophy will be made. |
153 Gancarz has tried to sum it up in his book | 151 Gancarz has tried to sum it up in his book |
154 ``The UNIX Philosophy''. | 152 ``The UNIX Philosophy''. |
155 .[ | 153 .[ |