mlh(_at_)zip(_dot_)com(_dot_)au wrote:
I encounter bugs in mh that no-one seems to want to acknowledge or want to fix. Also I strongly suspect that many security bugs lie within the ancient mh code, and the attitude of many is apathy.
nmh is an old code-base, well established, and stable. Stable things don't generally get messed with unless there are bugs or security problems. You've found some bugs, so go ahead and fix them. This environment is all about scratching itches. If you have an itch, scratch it and tell people how you did so.
My own little attempt to help give nmh a little nudge (the suggestion of a distributed version control system) was not met with enthusiasm.
Again stability, even in a development environment, does not work well with change. Changing the version control system does not improve the software. It only makes it more convenient or more fun for you to work with. I do the same thing with my own local repositories of FOSS, but I don't try to force changes upstream unless there is an overwhelming agreement to do so amongst the active contributing developers. Don't expect everyone to jump the bandwagon to try the next greatest fad in development environments. Your nudge wasn't really a nudge.
My own pie in the sky thoughts would be towards replacing some of the code with some better tested or more widely used mail handling code, (librfc822 ? (1)) and also possible partial conversion to c++.
That would be a pie, wouldn't it. IMHO, converting a stable code-base to C++, even partial, is introducing unnecessary complexity to the build environment and requires your developers to learn yet another language, however similar it may be. Everyone has a favorite language to work with, but that it does not necessitate migrating a proven product. With respect to librfc822, it is licensed under GNU GPL. This may not be a problem for someone making a derivative of nmh, a fork. To get librfc822 incorporated into nmh proper, however, you would be required to receive approval from all of the contributing authors to release the modified nmh with the new license, GNU GPL. Sometimes change is useful, and sometimes its unnecessary. Refactor rather than re-engineer. -- Chad Walstrom <chewie(_at_)wookimus(_dot_)net> http://www.wookimus.net/ assert(expired(knowledge)); /* core dump */
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