[Dovecot] Idea: POP3 deletion as a flag

[Professa Dementia]

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.