[GoLUG] Mailing list, long term.

[Ron]

Steve Litt wrote on 2025-08-13 15:45:

> 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 think the client will work on any Linux or BSD with a reasonably 
> sized screen. Making it work with Windows would not be difficult.

This is where making it with web tech has its benefits: literally
everyone online has access to browsers (as with email) and it can be 
fairly easily made to work with any screen sizes.


Expecting users to install yet another application might be a tough
sell.

It's already hard enough to get people to sign up for mailing
lists or new services, as you expressed on GTALUG.org Monday of this week.


> 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.

Web has this solved. Re-inventing wheels tough when current wheels work
pretty good.


> The minute you use the web (http), you have to use a custom port 
> number

Only if hosting at home, and dependent on one's ISP. I host at home on
80,443,3000,4000,8000 but that's not universally allowed.

But a CAD $5 / month VPS takes care of that, and more.


> and "best viewed with ..." becomes a thing.

We've been beyond that for quite some time now.  Sites like https://
CanIuse.com (?) are helpful on this front, but this project shouldn't 
require any bleeding edge tech.


> I *deliberately* stayed away from anything requiring a browser.

Again, billions of people have one or more. Zero people will have your
new application. That's the real hurdle.