Re: [Classpathx-javamail] Rework of mbox provider

[Countach]

Chris Burdess wrote:

> I've done a complete overhaul of the mbox provider's file-path 
> handling code. It should now follow the JavaMail spec much more 
> closely, and MboxStore.getFolder will support both relative and 
> absolute Windows and POSIX pathnames. I don't have a MacOS <= 9 or VMS 
> system to test pathnames on, so if you have such a system, your 
> comments and patches would be much appreciated.


If I understand the new code correctly, the MBOX code will now name 
folders differently depending on the platform. i.e. the hierarchy 
separator is backslash for windows platform and forword slash for Unix.

I wonder if this isn't a step backwards? Previously the MBOX hierarchy 
separator was always forward slash regardless of platform (just like 
URLs), and code that uses it doesn't have to worry about what platform 
it is on. Now with this setup, the clients of this library have to do a 
lot more work to get the same level of platform independance. For 
example, if you had a floppy disk with a java mail reader app, a config 
file and some mail folders you carry around with you, any config files 
that refer to Mbox folders won't work on different platforms.  You'd 
have to write code remember the file separator on the previous platform, 
do a substitution and re-write the config file according to the new 
platform. This is the only Java mail provider that I can think of off 
hand that has this change of folder naming behaviour on different platforms.