Re: Changing the default for `send-mail-function'

[Richard Stallman]

    >> on one side, we have those who believe that the MAJORITY of local MTA
    >> configurations are broken and therefore, we should move to a default
    >> of smtpmail, plus those who feel this is the more modern approach
    >> adopted by most other mail clients and one that tends to fit better
    >> with a model of computing that focuses on mobility and connectivity
    >> from multiple networks (with different firewalls, smtp servers and
    >> authentication requirements etc)  versus an alternative perspective
    >> who question this assumption and who are concerned that many people
    >> who currently don't have to worry about issues associated with
    >> configuring email will now be forced to and in some cases, this could
    >> be difficult as such information may not be readily available

[I cut off some text at the beginning and end to make it fit this window.]

The description of the second group (which includes me) makes us seem
more opposed than we really are.

I am not at all opposed to making things easy for people for whom the
right solution is smtp.  What I disagree with is the implicit plan to
deprecate machines with an MTA.  We should support both groups of
users.  I am looking for ways to do that.

How many different MTAs are offered as options in the widely used
distros?  Maybe it is not many; maybe for each one we could find a way
to see if it really is configured by looking at files in /etc.


-- 
Dr Richard Stallman
President, Free Software Foundation
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