Male Services
There aren’t that many players in the java enterprise mail server playground. Of that pitiful field, apache james is probably the lone player.
James is…well…interesting. For one thing, it’s based on the doomed and dead Avalon. All their news says regarding this demise is that James is in fact alive and kicking, but cleverly sidestepping the whole ‘wtf will we do now’ issue. Most wise!
In typical open source fashion, someone wrote the documentation a few years back and has long since moved onto bigger and better things. Witness ‘This stable and robust container (Avalon) provides a strong foundation for the James server.’ Stable and robust maybe in the manner that a corpse in severe rigor mortis is stable and robust.
As it typical of such projects, the decisions made are are unfathomable, perplexing, and deeply disturbing. Why does the admin ‘console’ need to be telnet based? Why is there no mention of IMAP? Why does the mailet api look and feel like it’s 1998?
Despair not however, there is a silver lining! As much as it pains me to admit this, I’ve actually been working on the jboss mails services thingyjobby. Encouraged by Scott Stark’s proclamations of its death, I thought it’d be hilarious if I were to pick it up and contribute to it.
So the last couple of months have been pretty busy, and I’ve been submitting patches here and there. The only galling thing of course is seeing the smug self-centered look on Andy Oliver’s horrible beard, but such is life, and as long as we stick to the task at hand, we’re able to communicate with surprising success.
So why are jboss mail services better? Well, it’s a well maintained product for one thing. Someone actually bothers keep the wiki updated, it integrates well with other components, and has a rich and vibrant community of interested users and contributors.
Best of all, it has IMAP support as well as a host of other features. The forums get dozens of interesting posts a day, and clusters like springbots on Rod Johnson’s teats (lets be honest, mail server that don’t cluster are yesterday’s tech, unfit for today’s brave new world).
So as much as it pains me, I must recommend this product. Sure, it’s rough around the edges, but who isn’t?
Oh and just to taunt you losers, I’d like to now brag that my proposal for a JavaOne presentation has been accepted! ‘Male Services For The Enterprise’, muhahaha! I’ll be discussing the stuff in this entry in more detail.
April 1st, 2005 at 8:31 am
Hmmm. April 1st?
April 1st, 2005 at 8:43 am
JBoss Male Services is pretty much as alive as I am. Rigor mortis here I come.
JP
April 1st, 2005 at 9:08 am
The omnission of IMAP makes the “E” in JAMES hilariously ironic and the first thing I noticed when I came acros it many moons ago. Do they really think any “enterprise” would think installing POP clients on their employees PCs is a good way to set up an email infrastructure?
April 1st, 2005 at 9:18 am
the biggest joke is that hani reckons he can code enough to contribute! those that can’t…bile
April 1st, 2005 at 9:19 am
Good one!!
Some good April Fools going round this year, but Hani always knocks out a good one :)
April 1st, 2005 at 10:05 am
Only a major open sores fapfest could result in an “enterprise” mail server that is IMAP-challenged. I guess we’re lucky the developers decided that SMTP support might be handy for sending stuff.
April 1st, 2005 at 11:20 am
You MUST remove this recommendation Hani. You MUST. Otherwise you’ll be placed on the ignore list with /. and OSNews!
This is treachery most foul!!!!! How could you do this. After all the bashing you’ve done on those twits. You’re now helping them?
Say it ain’t so!!!!!!
April 1st, 2005 at 2:13 pm
JBoss Mail is the most credible part of our Enterprise Middleware Platform.
April 1st, 2005 at 3:06 pm
Maserting Resin!
April 1st, 2005 at 11:48 pm
In other interesting April 1 news, Hani has just joined the JSR-220 expert group and will be contributing to the design of EJB 3.0.
April 2nd, 2005 at 11:49 am
Q: What do Jason Hunter and Kajagoogoo have in common ?
A: One hit, going, going, gone!
April 2nd, 2005 at 5:57 pm
Who cares about EJB 3.0?
April 4th, 2005 at 12:40 pm
Is this supposed to be bile for James or promotional stuff for JBoss?
April 4th, 2005 at 10:15 pm
Male Services @ JavaOne?
Dude, don’t you realize that the JavaOne conference happens on the last week of Gay Pride month in San Franciso?
You’re probably gonna get a lot of “attendees”. . .
April 5th, 2005 at 3:33 pm
Holy shit! There’s nothing after Death! I should have enjoyed life while I was down there and now it’s too laaaaaaaaaaaaaate
April 7th, 2005 at 6:48 am
Hey pope baby, they’re just hiding and playing a trick on you. Jesus is on this list, so they must be up there somewhere. Burnt any good protestants lately? I’ve crucified a few catholics.
April 7th, 2005 at 3:20 pm
Bow before Me, Shortus Dickus, and kiss my colostomy bag!
Damn, I’m in hell now. They remembered this chick that I got pregnant with my Holy Semen. They are making me read Web Services specifications and maintain JBoss code. Even Dante didn’t think of that.
October 14th, 2006 at 8:03 am
Do they really think any “enterprise” would think installing POP clients on their employees PCs is a good way to set up an email infrastructure?