[Dovecot] Configuration file changes in CVS

[Charlie Brady]

On Thu, 10 Jul 2003, Mark E. Mallett wrote:

> > Back to the topic, I'd rather there wasn't a configuration file at all.
> > I've got very used to Dan Berstein/Bruce Guenter software where 
> > environment variables and command line arguments are the only 
> > configuration.
> 
> I also agree here- that kind of control is nice for some things,
> particularly when those things are simple boolean switches
> (enable/disable), and especially when it makes sense to control those
> things at runtime on a discrete basis. 

Agreed.

> However note "environment
> variables and command line arguments only" is not necessarily the
> philosophy for djb's stuff (I'm afraid I have no experience with the
> other). 

However, avoiding parsing *is* a clear policy of his, with, I think, 
considerable payback in reliability and simplicity of control.

> qmail, for example, has a raft of control files that, well,
> control its operation.

Sure, but they are all *very* simple in format.

> And sometimes more complex configurations do make sense, for example
> for where encapsulations of multiple settings are common.

Such encapsulation can usually be done another way, for example by having
multiple directories, each holding a collection of simple config files.  
ezmlm, for instance, works this way.

--
Charlie