Fetchmail
![]() Screenshot of fetchmail launcher | |
Original author(s) | Eric S. Raymond |
---|---|
Stable release | 6.4.39[1] ![]() |
Repository | |
Operating system | Unix-like |
Type | Mail delivery agent |
License | GNU General Public License |
Website | www |
Fetchmail is an open-source software utility for POSIX-compliant operating systems which is used to retrieve e-mail from a remote POP3, IMAP, or ODMR mail server to the user's local system. It was developed from the popclient program, written by Carl Harris.[2]
Its chief significance is perhaps that its author, Eric S. Raymond, used it as a model to discuss his theories of open-source software development in a widely read and influential essay on software development methodologies The Cathedral and the Bazaar.
Design
[edit]By design, Fetchmail's only means of delivering messages is by submitting them to the local MTA/Message transfer agent or invoking a mail delivery agent[3] like procmail, maildrop, or sendmail; delivering directly to mail folders such as maildir is not supported.
It is a C program evolved by gradual mutation from an ancestor already written in C.[4]
Dan Bernstein, getmail creator Charles Cazabon and FreeBSD developer Terry Lambert, have criticized Fetchmail's design,[5] its number of security holes,[6] and that it was prematurely put into "maintenance mode". In 2004, a new team of maintainers took over Fetchmail development,[7] and laid out development plans that broke with design decisions that Eric Raymond had made in earlier versions.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Matthias Andree (20 July 2024). "fetchmail 6.4.39 is available (two bugfixes)". Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ Raymond, Eric. "Eric S. Raymond's former Design Notes On Fetchmail". Retrieved 2007-04-03.
- ^ "...or into an MDA program...", Section G1, The Fetchmail FAQ.
- ^ Richardson, Anthony (2004). "An Online Unix System Programming Course For Computer Engineering Students". 2004 Annual Conference Proceedings. ASEE Conferences: 9.197.1–9.197.10. doi:10.18260/1-2--13866.
- ^ Lambert, Terry. "UUCP must stay; fetchmail sucks (was list 'o things)". Retrieved 2007-04-05.
- ^ Cazabon, Charles. "getmail frequently asked questions". Retrieved 2007-04-05.
- ^ "Developer History". Retrieved 2007-04-05.
- ^ "Design Notes On Fetchmail". Retrieved 2007-04-05.