[GoLUG] Mailing list, long term.

[Steve Litt]

On Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:24:10 +0100 (GMT+01:00)
kc-golug at chadwicks.me.uk wrote:

> One problem you will have is replacing email clients that are
> available on every platform. 

I would think the server would run flawlessly on any Linux or BSD
server. Does anybody even run servers on Windows anymore?

I think the client will work on any Linux or BSD with a reasonably
sized screen. Making it work with Windows would not be difficult. As
far as Mobile, the client is so simple it would be easy for somebody
else to write a client for Apple and Google devices.

> You could use Flutter but even then the
> likes of OpenBSD would need some web wizardry.

Linux, *BSD and Windows all support Python, so it's kind of easy to make
a client in Python. Sure, the resulting app won't be "native look", but
those prioritizing pretty over frictionless mind collaboration would be
better candidates for Facebook.

The minute you use the web (http), you have to use a custom port
number, and "best viewed with ..." becomes a thing. I *deliberately*
stayed away from anything requiring a browser. Also, as long as I'm in
charge of the server, it will never, never, NEVER have the equivalent
of HTML email.

> Whilst you make some good points. Personally I like the archiving and
> think mailing lists are great from a user perspective yet many seem
> to prefer web forums 🤷🏼‍♂

Some prefer forums, some prefer Facebook, some prefer Slack, Discourse,
Discord, Google Groups, etc. In my original email I articulated the
very real problems of each of these.

> 
> Flutter tried to move to their own dedicated app but I haven't really
> used it.
> 

If Flutter is https://flutter.dev/ , it's a development tool. Having a
development tool in the cloud rubs many the wrong way. I'll be building
my client with Python to save time and energy, but those preferring
"pretty" and "native look" might develop a client in Flutter.

SteveT

Steve Litt 
Spring 2023 featured book: Troubleshooting Techniques of the Successful
Technologist http://www.troubleshooters.com/techniques