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5. Mail "User Agents"

This section contains information related to "user agents", which means the software the user sees and uses. This software relies on the "transport agents" mentioned above.

5.1 Elm

Elm compiles, installs, and runs flawlessly under Linux up to and through Slackware 1.1.1 (gcc2.4.5, gcclib 4.4.4). For more information, see the elm sources and installation instructions.

The only thing to know is that Elm's Configure script incorrectly sets the "ranlib" and "stdarg" variables in config.sh. The Elm Development Team has been informed of this little problem, so please don't bother them with it (again).

If you use a binary distribution, you'll need to create a /usr/local/lib/elm/elm.rc file to override the compiled-in hostname and domain information:

        #---------- /usr/local/lib/elm/elm.rc ------------------
        #
        # this is the unqualified hostname
        hostname = myhostname
        #
        # this is the local domain
        hostdomain = subdomain.domain
        #
        # this is the fully qualified hostname
        hostfullname = myhostname.subdomain.domain
        #
        #--------------------------------------------------------
One thing you want to be aware of is that if you have Elm compiled to be MIME-able, you need metamail installed and in your path or Elm will not be able to read MIME mail you've received. Metamail is available on thumper.bellcore.com and of course via "archie".

We have heard reports that gcc and gcclib newer than v2.4.5 and v4.4.4 respectively are rather strict and fail to compile Elm. Here's the scoop as reported by ccnp@unitrix.utr.ac.za (Neil Parker) who forwarded a posting by longyear@netcom.com (Al Longyear).

5.2 Mailx

Safe yourself the pain. Just go and grab the mailx kit from Slackware 2.1.0 or later, which has a nice implementation of mailx5.5. If you're into building from sources, mailx v5.5 compiles without patching under Linux if you have "pmake" installed.

If anybody is still using it, I strongly recommend removing the old "edmail" stuff from SLS1.00 and replacing it with mailx.

5.3 Other user agents

The following also are known to run under Linux. Consult "archie" for details regarding how to find them...


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