Re: [tlug] [OT] email client tips?

[furkan@example.com]

Hello,

> It is time to go back to using a terminal email client?!?!

I like mutt, but since all mutt's network io is blocking, if your 
connection get a little unstable, the UI completely freezes until a 
timeout. Therefore making it useless ( I just want to read/write my 
mails in the train, but only have connection when train stops at a 
station [1]. I'll try to work on mutt's code to refactor io to be async, 
delay mail dispatches, etc.

> I decided to try going back to using a desktop email client.

(Not a desktop client, but) MailPile [2] is in alpha stage, but still 
might be worth giving it a try, https://www.mailpile.is . Also suitable 
for local setups (having a separate util to fetch mails, and using 
Mailpile as a client to it). And it's a free software. And has all kinds 
of storage, encryption support, and more.

> I refuse to put PHP on my server

I hate installing ruby on my server as you do hate php. As a solution; I 
usually sandbox applications, creating a user for the application, 
bundle it in the homefolder, with all annoying dependencies. I mean, I'm 
installing ruby and all packages in that user's home folder. And then I 
give that user a separate supervisord handle it's own services, and only 
exposing one unix socket to let web server access and proxy the 
application. Did this mostly for gitlab [3]. It also provides 
portability. Just move/clone home folder between servers, and start 
supervisord for the user. I even put separate database server binaries 
in that home folder, and so on. In a way that app puts nothing in my 
filesystem, except it's home folder.

When I think about the mutt's main problem, blocking io; Actually, I can 
just set it up like MailPile, have a separate program to fetch all mails 
into mailbox folders, and keep it running as a daemon. Have an local 
SMTP server (eg. postfix) to handle dispatches, retries, etc. And point 
Mutt to local folders and local SMTP. That would make Mutt completely 
useful, will remove all freezing. ( I've just found myself a solution 
while trying to provide one to you :D )

--
Furkan Mustafa

[1]: wi2.ne.jp
[2]: https://www.mailpile.is
[3]: https://www.gitlab.com