On Wednesday 07 Jun 2006 15:32, Lev A. Serebryakov wrote:
Marc Perkel wrote:
To do this with MySQL would be trivial. To do it without a database isn't possible.
My MUA has ability to do exactly this... In any case, it isn't possible without some server-side (or client-side) client program -- MUA or LDA (because dovecot doesn't have any filtering abilities by itself). I don't see, why it is not possible to write such LDA/pseudo-MUA without database. Simplest way is to generate sieve/procmail script...
I think Marc exaggerates when he says "isn't possible", what he means is difficult, messy, and/or inefficient.
Doing filtering like this in the MUA is hideous anyway, as it locks you to a MUA (not to say I don't have a copy of thunderbird sorting my IMAP folders all day long on another machine, but it isn't a robust approach), which is why a standard for server side mail filtering like SIEVE is so desirable.
However I think Marc has given enough example of things that would likely be easier with a database. As I said I like the idea of mail in databases, just some people seems to have unrealistic hopes for what it might achieve. I also think building "brains" into the mail system is likely the only long term solution to spam (and spam like problems -- ignoring fixing the large base of compromised PCs out there).