Bug#109171: Use Maildir format by default
Hi,
I am not sure this is a good timing for this to be a policy
proposal. Please read on to see why I think so.
>>"Cesar" == Cesar Eduardo Barros <cesarb@nitnet.com.br> writes:
Cesar> Debian uses the traditional mailbox style by default.
[ Snip reasons for why this is not a good idea ]
Cesar> My proposal is to:
Cesar> 1. Use the maildir format by default for storage of the user's
Cesar> incoming mail. This means both the MTA must be configured
Cesar> for maildir by default (e.g. in eximconfig) and all the
Cesar> MUAs must be able to grok it without needing any manual
Cesar> configuration
This is not a policy related proposal -- until we are sure
that the MUA's can handle the Maildir format, and the MTA's can be
configured to use it as well, this proposal is unlikely to fly. This
is not something that can be accomplished by merely changing policy
-- and indeed, you do not need to change policy in order to get this
accomplished in the first case.
Once we have the MTA's and the MUA's changed to be able to be
configured to use the MAILDIR format, we can go ahead and formulate
the policy for it.
I am not very familiar with the status of the various MUA's
out there in Debian, so I am not sure how close we are.
Cesar> 2. Use the maildir format to store the user folders by default
Cesar> if the user's MUA allows it
The users mail is spooled by the MTA (using the MDA). How is
the MDA supposed to know if the users MUA of the week is able to grok
this format?
Cesar> The issues are:
Cesar> - Debian is about choice. So, of course mailbox vs maildir
Cesar> will end up being a configuration question. Just make
Cesar> maildir the default, please.
Well, as long as we are sure that the various mail related
subsystems on Debian can actually do this. Are we?
Cesar> - Standards for where to put the user's incoming mail/where in
Cesar> $HOME to put the folders. I believe most programs which use
Cesar> maildir already share common places, but putting them in
Cesar> policy would be good.
Well, documenting standard practice whould not be a bad idea.
Cesar> - Making programs which can't use it yet be able to use it
This has to be done before we mandate it in policy.
Cesar> - Somehow making programs able to guess which is the mbox/mdir
Cesar> choice of the day (perhaps using debconf).
Again, this has to be done before it can be mandated in a
policy proposal.
Cesar> - Dealing with indecise people who change the default while
Cesar> the system is live
I think these issues need to have a consensus solution before
we can go on with a formal proposal/amendment
manoj
--
For courage mounteth with occasion. William Shakespeare, "King John"
Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@debian.org> <http://www.debian.org/%7Esrivasta/>
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