A few years ago I wrote a webmail client to access my mail on the server host. I had developed a web server (in Scheme no less) that was/is running (now on a V

A few years ago I wrote a webmail client to access my mail on the server host. I had developed a web server (in Scheme no less) that was/is running (now on a VPS) and at the time it seemed only natural to extend it with webmail functionality. The effort was successful (for some definition of success), though it proved a to be a daunting task. It taught me a lot about email, that it's riddled with arcane protocols and dark corners, these "features" pretty much without consistency or order. On top of that there was constructing the UI needed to actually use the thing. Would I do it again if starting from scratch? I don't think so, it sure seems the hard way to go about it. No doubt I could recommend it as a great learning exercise, but for creating a product I don't think it's the pragmatic way to go. I've considered publicly sharing my project, but not before refactoring some prodigiously opaque, obscure and convoluted parts, and who knows when I'll have the time (or courage) to tackle it. Email remains at once a great wonder and horror, yet for all that email continues to be widely used, and remains essential to most everyone. I still use my email client most every day, despite its warts. I guess it's proven its worth after all.