4 ms·

Thunderbird, Chandler....feels like ages ago.

pestaa 7y ago
Dreaming in Code is one of my favorite programming books, it documents the development history behind the very ambitious project Chandler. Highly recommended. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32475.Dreaming_in_Code https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32475.Dreaming_in_Code
- kev009 7y ago
  Is it fair to say this is a good case study in the limits of Python and dynamic typing for large scale projects?
  - pestaa 7y ago
    I'm not sure static typing or a compiled language would have helped much. The scope of the undertaking was certainly enormous, but it was so ahead of its time in many aspects. It tried to combine an email client, calendar, scheduler, note-taking and more; any one of them would have been a serious task. Furthermore, they had to develop additional protocols and formats for reliable communications, and you may recognize them: CalDAV & CardDAV. The main software project could not withstand the changing requirements and complexity.
  - unexpected 7y ago
    I have read the book, and I don't think it's a case study of Python - it's a case study on releasing an MVP. Chandler tried to do every.single.thing right out of the gate, and got bogged down. What would have happened if it just focused on email?
- nobleach 7y ago
  I'm just about finished with this and wow, all I can say is that I've LIVED that experience. Great intentions, plenty of work, and somehow, we just couldn't get it out the door. Chandler did finally make it: http://www.chandlerproject.org/ http://www.chandlerproject.org/ though... but that story is such a good read.
imglorp 7y ago
... Sylpheed, Eudora, mh...
- pmlnr 7y ago
  ... Evolution, pine, mutt ...
  - skrause 7y ago
    I still use Gnus for mailing lists and Thunderbird for all direct email. Almost 20 years ago I spent more than 2 whole days to configure every detail of Gnus to my liking and still use the same configuration mostly unchanged.
  - unexpected 7y ago
    We can date ourselves by what email clients we have used!

Dreaming in Code is one of my favorite programming books, it documents the development history behind the very ambitious project Chandler. Highly recommended. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32475.Dreaming_in_Code https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32475.Dreaming_in_Code

kev009 7y ago
Is it fair to say this is a good case study in the limits of Python and dynamic typing for large scale projects?
- pestaa 7y ago
  I'm not sure static typing or a compiled language would have helped much. The scope of the undertaking was certainly enormous, but it was so ahead of its time in many aspects. It tried to combine an email client, calendar, scheduler, note-taking and more; any one of them would have been a serious task. Furthermore, they had to develop additional protocols and formats for reliable communications, and you may recognize them: CalDAV & CardDAV. The main software project could not withstand the changing requirements and complexity.
- unexpected 7y ago
  I have read the book, and I don't think it's a case study of Python - it's a case study on releasing an MVP. Chandler tried to do every.single.thing right out of the gate, and got bogged down. What would have happened if it just focused on email?
nobleach 7y ago
I'm just about finished with this and wow, all I can say is that I've LIVED that experience. Great intentions, plenty of work, and somehow, we just couldn't get it out the door. Chandler did finally make it: http://www.chandlerproject.org/ http://www.chandlerproject.org/ though... but that story is such a good read.

imglorp 7y ago

... Sylpheed, Eudora, mh...

pmlnr 7y ago
... Evolution, pine, mutt ...
- skrause 7y ago
  I still use Gnus for mailing lists and Thunderbird for all direct email. Almost 20 years ago I spent more than 2 whole days to configure every detail of Gnus to my liking and still use the same configuration mostly unchanged.
- unexpected 7y ago
  We can date ourselves by what email clients we have used!