Re: mail-sources versus select-methods

[Richard Riley <rileyrg@googlemail.com>]

Leonidas Tsampros <ltsampros@upnet.gr> writes:

> Richard Riley <rileyrg@googlemail.com> writes:
>> Undoubtedly an incredibly naive question but why would one use
>> mail-sources over select-methods?
>>
>
> I think I have the same question my self. However, mail-sources is just
> a 'digest' method.

What does digest mean in this instance? It can be all sorts including
pop3 etc.

>
> Quoting the docs:
>
> mail-sources is a variable defined in `mail-source.el'.
> Its value is ((directory :path "~/Mail" :suffix ""))
>

Thats  not the docs but rather its current value.

See

(gnus) Mail Source Specifiers


in the gnus manual for more info. 

But you probably meant that ;)

> What I do not understand is which mail backend (if multiple are defined)
> is going to consume these mails ?

Me neither.

My setting is

,----
| mail-sources is a variable defined in `mail-source.el'.
| Its value is 
| ((file :path "/var/spool/mail/shamrock"))
`----

I access it via nnml :

   (add-to-list 'gnus-secondary-select-methods
                '(nnml "spool"
                         ))
   

You would have no idea how long it took me to get to that ;)

I still dont really really understand the connection. Gnus does so much
under the cover and makes some really clever guesses at what you want.
I think because nnml is a mail backend, it just assumes its fed from
mail-sources. A reasonable enough assumption. Which then begs your question.

>
>> Whats the history here?  Is it just historical? Or are the select
>> methods simply another layer provided by Gnus to smooth over the
>> message.el package?
>
> I think message.el is just the glue part where mails are composed and
> sent out. I'm not source it has anything to do with mail-sources.
>
> Select methods on the other hand is the backends from which you READ
> email. (that's how I understand it, please someone correct me if I'm
> wrong)

and other stuff such as nntp or google "pseudo" groups (which doesnt
work in HEAD btw (G W)).