Andrew Falanga wrote:
[snip]
If it's expected that the reader knows what the difference between mbox and MAILDIR is, then a "disclaimer" or sorts should be given at least in the opening page of the wiki. Something like, "It's assumed that the reader has more than a basic understanding of how mail systems work . . ."
did you see http://wiki.dovecot.org/MailServerOverview ?
I agree and I did have more than a basic understanding. Prior to becoming a programmer, I spent 11 years as a network administrator and about 1.5 years of that time was administering e-mail. However, and very unfortunate for me, the extent of my experience working with e-mail for that time was all in Windoze and Exchange. Oh, also a package from IPSWITCH, can't recall now the name,
IMail?
but all of the work was done for me. One of the reasons I've come to resent the Windows world.
why? That's about all I like in windows... (I mean when the work I want is done for me, not the work someone else has decided to do for me ;-p)
but I agree that people who "grew in a windows universe" have a hard time getting behind the windows. not that they don't want to know, but they have no idea where to start. but I disgress...
The flip side is that how else does one gain the experience to do anything without being exposed to it? Very often I've noticed from people who know an attitude of, "Well, you shouldn't be doing this unless you have some idea of what you're doing." The problem is, without doing that thing, they can't have much of an idea of how to do it to begin with.
True, but you need to state this when you ask about something. The reason is that many people don't want to learn: they just want to fix something or know whether they took the right decision... so when they come and ask "I've heard about $foo. what is it and how to do me do?". Then "don't bother" is sometimes the right answer (which you can read it as "that's not very important. you can forget about it.").
also, some areas are more complex than it appears at start. email is one such domain. there are many protocols and standards (smtp, pop, imap, mime, dns, ... etc) and a lot of confusion (how many people do you know who can tell the difference between envelope senders and From headers?)
you are welcome to ask questions, but you need to show your motivation by doing your "home work". you need to look at few places such as wikipedia and google.
Of course, you'll meet what I call "angry" people in public forums (and in real life as well). They will insult you (litterally I mean) and treat you by many names that my mother forbid me to repeat. But up so far, I didn't see such individuals on the dovecot list. and if I can give you an advice: when you meet such people, either pass your way, or try to have fun.
and don't get mad at us. we are just robots (you know Eliza? if not, run Emacs and type "M-x doctor"). Whomever told you that we are real people sitting behind computers lied to you ;-p
-- mouss United Robots of Benetton