On 5/3/2013 7:38 PM, Noel Butler wrote:
Incidentally, the last time I read the pop3 RFC, admittedly some decade or so ago (and yeah it's likely been updated since?) I can not recall there ever being a "MUST" or "SHOULD" when it comes to deleting messages (it might have been deliberately omitted) apart from the server MUST NOT delete messages that are not marked for deletion.
FYI: In addition to the significant privacy and legal concerns, adding and enabling this option makes the server non-compliant. The section under "The UPDATE State" is clear about the behavior of the server:
"The POP3 server removes all messages marked as deleted from the maildrop"
Also note that I am only referring to the public version of the server. Whatever Timo wants to do for a special version for his client is up to him. It is he and his client who are legally responsible for their actions. Similarly, if some third party wants to take the source and modify it for themselves to make it non-compliant, then that is their business. They are legally responsible for their actions and have to answer for those actions if they end up violating any laws. I do not feel that an option like this should be in the public version of the server, however, even if it is off by default.
Dem
RFC 1939 "Post Office Protocol - Version 3"
Under section 5 "The TRANSACTION State", Pages 7-8.
DELE msg
Arguments:
a message-number (required) which may NOT refer to a
message marked as deleted
Restrictions:
may only be given in the TRANSACTION state
Discussion:
The POP3 server marks the message as deleted. Any future
reference to the message-number associated with the message
in a POP3 command generates an error. The POP3 server does
not actually delete the message until the POP3 session
enters the UPDATE state.Under section 6 "The UPDATE State", Page 9.
When the client issues the QUIT command from the TRANSACTION state,
the POP3 session enters the UPDATE state.
QUIT
Arguments: none
Restrictions: none
Discussion:
The POP3 server removes all messages marked as deleted
from the maildrop and replies as to the status of this
operation.