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author markus schnalke <meillo@marmaro.de>
date Tue, 12 Jun 2012 18:04:55 +0200
parents 7ca31b06b653
children 3c4e5f0a7e7b
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86:1aa541b2ed96 87:7d5b180de542
1 .H0 "Preface" no 1 .H0 "Preface" no
2 2
3 .P 3 .P
4 I have discovered the mail client \fInmh\fP in September 2009. 4 I have discovered the mail client \fInmh\fP in Fall 2009.
5 At that time I used to use \fImutt\fP, as many advanced Unix users do. 5 At that time I used \fImutt\fP, as many advanced Unix users do.
6 When I read about nmh, its concepts had convinced me at once. 6 When I read about nmh, its concepts convinced me at once.
7 The transition from mutt to nmh was similar to 7 The transition from mutt to nmh was similar to beginning with
8 managing files in the Unix shell when being used to the 8 file management in the Unix shell when being used to the
9 \fImidnight commander\fP, 9 \fImidnight commander\fP,
10 or like editing with vi when being used to modeless editors. 10 or like starting with vi when being used to modeless editors.
11 Such a change is not trivial, but in being convinced by the 11 Such a change is not trivial, but, in being convinced by the
12 concepts and by having done similar transitions for file management 12 concepts and by having done similar transitions for file management
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 On the other hand, nevertheless, it still was 18 Nevertheless, it still was inconvenient for handling attachments,
19 inconvenient for handling attachments, non-ASCII character encodings, 19 non-ASCII character encodings, and similar features of modern emailing.
20 and similar features of modern emailing.
21 My setup demanded more and more additional configuration and helper scripts 20 My setup demanded more and more additional configuration and helper scripts
22 to get nmh behave the way I wanted, although my 21 to have nmh behave the way I wanted; yet my
23 expectations were rather common for modern emailing. 22 expectations were rather common for modern emailing.
24 In being a computer scientist and programmer, 23 In being a computer scientist and programmer,
25 I wanted to improve the situation. 24 I wanted to improve the situation.
26 .P 25 .P
27 In Spring 2010, I asked on the \fInmh-workers\fP mailing list for the 26 In Spring 2010, I asked on the \fInmh-workers\fP mailing list for the
28 possibility to offer a Google Summer of Code project for me. 27 possibility to offer a Google Summer of Code project for me.
29 Participating in the development of nmh this way appeared attractive to me, 28 Participating in the development of nmh this way appeared attractive to me,
30 because I would have been able to work full time on nmh as the project 29 because I would have been able to work full time on nmh.
31 could have been part of my official studies at university.
32 Although the nmh community had been generally positive on the suggestion, 30 Although the nmh community had been generally positive on the suggestion,
33 the administrative work for a GSoC project had been to much to have 31 the administrative work for a GSoC project had been to much to have
34 it realized. 32 it realized.
35 Nontheless, my proposal had activated the nmh community. 33 Nontheless, my proposal had activated the nmh community.
36 In the following weeks, goals for nmh's future were discussed. 34 In the following weeks, goals for nmh's future were discussed.
37 In these discussions, I became involved in the 35 In these discussions, I became involved in the
38 question whether nmh should include mail transfer facilities. 36 question whether nmh should include mail transfer facilities.
39 .[ 37 .[
40 nmh-workers thread mta mua 38 nmh-workers thread mta mua
41 .] 39 .]
42 In this central point, my opinion differed from the opinion of most others. 40 I argued for the MTA of nmh to be removed.
43 I argued for the MTA facility of nmh to be removed. 41 In this fundamental question,
44 Besides the discussions, hardly any real work was done. 42 my opinion differed from the opinion of most others.
45 Being unable to work on nmh in a way that would be 43 Sadly, besides the discussions, hardly any real work was done.
46 accepted as part of my official studies, I needed to choose another project. 44 Being unable to work on nmh in a way that would be accepted at university
45 as part of my studies, I needed to choose another project.
47 .P 46 .P
48 Half a year later, starting in August 2010, 47 Half a year later, starting in August 2010,
49 I took one semester off to travel through Latin America. 48 I took one semester off to travel through Latin America.
50 During my time in Argentina, I planned to work on Free Software. 49 During my time in Argentina, I wanted to work on Free Software.
51 This brought me back to nmh. 50 This brought me back to nmh.
52 Richard Sandelman, an active nmh user, cared for the official basis. 51 Richard Sandelman, an active nmh user, cared for the official basis.
53 Juan Granda, an argentine Free Software developer, 52 Juan Granda, an argentine Free Software developer,
54 provided a computer with Internet connection for my work. 53 provided a computer with Internet connection.
55 Thanks to them, I was able to work on nmh during my three-month 54 Thanks to them, I was able to work on nmh during my three-month
56 stay in Santiago del Estero in Argentina. 55 stay in Santiago del Estero, Argentina.
57 Quickly it became obvious that I wouldn't succeed with my main goal: 56 Quickly it became obvious that I wouldn't succeed with my main goal,
58 improving the character encoding handling within the project. 57 to improve the character encoding handling.
59 One of its ramifications is the 58 (One of its ramifications is the
60 missing transfer decoding of quoted text in replies. 59 missing transfer decoding of quoted text in replies.)
61 As this is one of the most intricate parts of the system, the goal 60 As this is one of the most intricate parts of the system, the goal
62 was simply set too high. 61 was simply set too high.
63 Instead, I improved the code base as I read through it. 62 Instead, I improved the code base as I read through it.
64 I found minor bugs for which I proposed fixes to the community. 63 I found minor bugs for which I proposed fixes.
65 In the same go, I improved the documentation in minor ways. 64 In the same go, I improved the documentation in minor ways.
66 When I started with larger code changes, 65 When I started with larger code changes,
67 I had to discover that the community was reluctant to change. 66 I had to discover that the community was reluctant to change.
68 Its wish for compatibility was much stronger than its 67 Its wish for compatibility was much stronger than its
69 wish for convenient out-of-the-box setups \(en in contrast to my opinion. 68 wish for convenient out-of-the-box setups \(en in contrast to my opinion.
70 This led to long discussions, again. 69 This led to long discussions, again.
71 I came to understand their point of view, but it was different to mine. 70 I came to understand their point of view, but it was different to mine.
72 At the end of my three-month project, I had become familiar with 71 At the end of my three-month project, I had become familiar with
73 nmh's code base and community. 72 nmh's code base and community,
74 I had improved the project in minor ways, 73 I had improved the project in minor ways,
75 and I still was convinced that I wanted to go on to do so. 74 and I still was convinced that I wanted to continue to do so.
76 .P 75 .P
77 Another half year later, the end of my studies came within reach. 76 Another half year later, the end of my studies came within reach.
78 I needed a topic for my master's thesis. 77 I needed a topic for my master's thesis.
79 No question, I wanted to work on nmh. 78 No question, I wanted to work on nmh.
80 But well, not exactly on nmh, because I had accepted that the 79 But well, not exactly on nmh, because I had accepted that the
81 nmh community has different goals than I have. 80 nmh community has different goals than I have.
82 This would result in much discussion and thus little progress. 81 Working on nmh would result in much discussion and, in consequence,
82 little progress.
83 After careful thought, I decided to start an experimental version of nmh. 83 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. 84 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 85 I wanted to create a usable alternative version to be compared with
86 the present state of nmh. 86 the present state of nmh.
87 Eventually, my work would be proven successful or not. 87 Eventually, my work would be proven successful or not.