Re: [9fans] problems with marshal

["Boyd Roberts" <boyd@planete.net>]

From: <rog@vitanuova.com>
> 
> the other problem is that text attachments containing 8 bit utf don't
> propagate the "Content-transfer-encoding: 8bit" into the main header.
> fixing this would require reading all the attachments before spitting
> out the principal header, which is not currently done.
> 

i reckon that a lot of careful thought would be required before
stepping into that mimefield [sic].

by the end of the 4th mime doc either the authors had totally
lost it, you have totally lost it or a combination of both.

at least with text messages from plan 9 they are obviously
8bit, 'cos it's UTF.  but when you talk smtp you then have to
decide on whether conversion is required depending on who
you're talking to at the other end.

it's a very ugly problem.  attatchments complicate it no end.

i agree with what Bill McLean, director of the AIM-9 sidewinder
project said:

    it is easy to build something that is complicated but
    it is hard to build something so that it's simple

that may not be exact.

during the trials between the sidewinder and what was to
become the AIM-54 phoenix, the phoenix team had a hanger
full of test equipment.  when asked for what sort of test
equipment the sidewinder team required the reply was:

    oh, a flashlight and a screwdriver