Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ateng!chip
From: chip@ateng.ateng.com (Chip Salzenberg)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.xenix
Subject: Re: Xenix mail system
Keywords: xenix, mail
Message-ID: <1989Jan23.124059.11276@ateng.ateng.com>
Date: 23 Jan 89 17:40:58 GMT
References: <417@ispi.UUCP>
Organization: A T Engineering, Tampa, FL
Lines: 47

According to jbayer@ispi.UUCP (Jonathan Bayer):
>	I would like to totally replace the standard Xenix mail system. 
>Currently I have smail running [...]
>
>	UUCP currently calls rmail (linked to smail) which then calls
>lmail.  lmail is the first program I want to replace.  I have received a
>copy of an lmail replacement from Jon Zeeff.  It looks good, but I do
>want some more input since the comments state that it has not been fully
>checked out.

Jon Zeeff's lmail program does work, but it lacks flexibility.

(An aside:  It is ironic that Jon denigrates Smail 3 for lack of
flexibility, while he publishes a mail program with only minimal
functionality.)

My "deliver" program would probably be a better choice:

    System-wide and user-specific delivery files control the delivery
    of each message.

    Delivery files are shell scripts, so anything you can describe in
    a shell script can be used to control delivery.

    Security has been carefully addressed.

Some specific applications so far:

    Bounce mail to work or home systems based on time of day and day of week.

    Allow for common misspellings of user names.

    Save mail in different mailboxes based on subject line, sender, etc.

    Toss mail from particularly irritating people.

The deliver program is available in the comp.sources.unix archives.  The
current patchlevel is six -- be sure to get all six patches.

Incidentally, it's a plug-in replacement for the /usr/lib/mail/mail.local
program which is a standard part of the Xenix mail system.  You Xenix users
who don't wish to throw away the Xenix mail system can use deliver without
disturbing your current setup.
-- 
Chip Salzenberg             <chip@ateng.com> or <uunet!ateng!chip>
A T Engineering             Me?  Speak for my company?  Surely you jest!
	  "It's no good.  They're tapping the lines."