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Gmail is good, but it's not the features so much as the complexity of running my own mail server that's stopping me moving off it (to say nothing of the fact I

Gmail is good, but it's not the features so much as the complexity of running my own mail server that's stopping me moving off it (to say nothing of the fact I am not a "Unicorn"). The current DIY offerings are far too heavy and complex. It's a pity because there are a lot of apps that could use the identity/data layer of email if it was simpler to use. By simple I mean if we were inventing it today then a simple JSON under the protection ssl would be a decent starting point. Extensions over the basics could be flagged in the subject header with the payload as another JSON file in the basic attachment infrastructure. While it would be more complex it shouldn't be too many times more complex than the dime a dozen "IRC client in language X" or a REST interfaces. Maybe I am wrong regarding traditional email though, is there a simple and easy DIY email stack around these days?

peterwwillis 11y ago
E-mail software is not complex. It's all based on a simple line-based text protocol. The stack is also pretty simple to learn if you spend an hour on it. The administrative headaches range from general user woes to networks that don't want your mail or have various ways of handling it, and you regularly have to address new and unusual problems. But this has nothing to do with the stack or protocol. This is because not all mail is made the same, not everyone does it right, and spam is really god damn annoying. Don't run your own mail server unless you want to find out what makes BOFHs cry.
- sam_lowry_ 11y ago
  You clearly never run your company's mail server. It needs regular attention, and 1 hour is not enough to jump in.
- arethuza 11y ago
  At one point I "inherited" an email system that had ~120 different domains hundreds of servers worldwide and pretty much every email program known (including Lotus Notes) - migrating that to one email system while keeping the whole thing running was no fun at all - largely as nobody cares that much about email until it doesn't work then they get very upset and shouty.
- TeMPOraL 11y ago
  The end result is, you need to invest significant amount of time and know-how into setting it up and then even more for maintenance if you want your e-mails to be ever read by anyone. Because spam is really god damn annoying.
Tepix 11y ago
Have you had a look at sovereign (on github)? It's easy to set up and offers much more than just email.

peterwwillis 11y ago

E-mail software is not complex. It's all based on a simple line-based text protocol. The stack is also pretty simple to learn if you spend an hour on it. The administrative headaches range from general user woes to networks that don't want your mail or have various ways of handling it, and you regularly have to address new and unusual problems. But this has nothing to do with the stack or protocol. This is because not all mail is made the same, not everyone does it right, and spam is really god damn annoying. Don't run your own mail server unless you want to find out what makes BOFHs cry.

sam_lowry_ 11y ago
You clearly never run your company's mail server. It needs regular attention, and 1 hour is not enough to jump in.
arethuza 11y ago
At one point I "inherited" an email system that had ~120 different domains hundreds of servers worldwide and pretty much every email program known (including Lotus Notes) - migrating that to one email system while keeping the whole thing running was no fun at all - largely as nobody cares that much about email until it doesn't work then they get very upset and shouty.
TeMPOraL 11y ago
The end result is, you need to invest significant amount of time and know-how into setting it up and then even more for maintenance if you want your e-mails to be ever read by anyone. Because spam is really god damn annoying.

Tepix 11y ago

Have you had a look at sovereign (on github)? It's easy to set up and offers much more than just email.