Fetchmail
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- The correct title of this article is fetchmail. The initial letter is shown capitalized due to technical restrictions.
| fetchmail | |
| Author: | Eric S. Raymond |
|---|---|
| Latest release: | 6.3.6 / January 5, 2007 |
| OS: | Linux |
| Use: | |
| License: | GNU General Public License |
| Website: | www.fetchmail.info |
fetchmail is a utility found on some Unix-like systems used to retrieve e-mail from a remote POP3, IMAP, ETRN or ODMR mail server to the user's local system. It was developed from the popclient program, written by Carl Harris.[1]
It's chief significance is perhaps that its author, Eric S. Raymond, used it to discuss his theories of open source software development in a widely-read essay on software development methodologies, The Cathedral and the Bazaar.
Fetchmail is licensed under the GNU General Public License.
Some programmers, including Dan Bernstein, getmail creator Charles Cazabon and FreeBSD developer Terry Lambert, have criticized fetchmail's design[2], its number of security holes [3], and that it was prematurely put into "maintenance mode". In 2004, a new team of maintainers took over fetchmail development[4], and laid out development plans that in some cases broke with design decisions that Eric Raymond had made in earlier versions.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Raymond, Eric. 'Eric S. Raymond's former Design Notes On Fetchmail'. Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
- ^ Lambert, Terry. 'UUCP must stay; fetchmail sucks (was list 'o things)'. Retrieved on April 5, 2007.
- ^ Cazabon, Charles. 'getmail frequently asked questions'. Retrieved on April 5, 2007.
- ^ 'Developer History'. Retrieved on April 5, 2007.
- ^ 'Design Notes On Fetchmail'. Retrieved on April 5, 2007.
