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The article makes a string of assertions without evidence. For example, that an “artisinal” email server will not “measure up in usability, features, and perfor

The article makes a string of assertions without evidence. For example, that an “artisinal” email server will not “measure up in usability, features, and performance to the email infrastructure that is run by big providers.” One reason that I continue to run my own email server after more than a decade of trouble-free operation (thanks Postfix and Dovecot) is that it performs better than my Gmail account, which I maintain as a 3rd-level backup and for some email lists. Delivery and receipt from my personal email is so fast that I can use it for real-time conversations with anyone else on a good-performing server, almost like chatting on WhatApp. This doesn’t work with Gmail, because it takes so long for a message to leave their servers. Plus on my own system I don’t get the spam false positives that plague Gmail. Those are only two ways that a personal server outperforms Gmail. I can do plenty of other things with it, because I control it, that are impossible with Gmail.

chmaynard 5y ago
> The article makes a string of assertions without evidence. Agreed, but the same observation could be made about most blog posts. The author is expressing his opinions based on experience and judgment. This particular author has a good reputation so HN readers take his opinions seriously.
- leephillips 5y ago
  Fair enough. But in this case his opinions are incorrect and arbitrary. The reason I and many others maintain our own email servers is not to be “cute” (a word used in the article) but because we want superior usability, features, and performance over what the major providers can offer. Otherwise, why would I bother? The only issue is that some people claim to experience delivery problems. Others, such as myself, say that delivery is at least as good as from major providers. And receipt is far better than when using a big provider. Unlike the unfortunate users of hotmail, I actually get all my email. EDIT: And not only does (for example) Gmail run a poorly performing email service, but their web client for interacting with email is broken: https://lwn.net/Articles/837960/ https://lwn.net/Articles/837960/

chmaynard 5y ago

> The article makes a string of assertions without evidence. Agreed, but the same observation could be made about most blog posts. The author is expressing his opinions based on experience and judgment. This particular author has a good reputation so HN readers take his opinions seriously.

leephillips 5y ago
Fair enough. But in this case his opinions are incorrect and arbitrary. The reason I and many others maintain our own email servers is not to be “cute” (a word used in the article) but because we want superior usability, features, and performance over what the major providers can offer. Otherwise, why would I bother? The only issue is that some people claim to experience delivery problems. Others, such as myself, say that delivery is at least as good as from major providers. And receipt is far better than when using a big provider. Unlike the unfortunate users of hotmail, I actually get all my email. EDIT: And not only does (for example) Gmail run a poorly performing email service, but their web client for interacting with email is broken: https://lwn.net/Articles/837960/ https://lwn.net/Articles/837960/