From: "Rob Slade, Social Convener to the Net" <roberts@mukluk.decus.ca>
Subject: Review of "MH & xmh" by Peek
Date: 04 Jan 1995 03:01:11 MET
BKMH&XMH.RVW 941124
"MH & xmh: E-mail for Users & Programmers", Peek, 1992, 1-56592-027-9
%A Jerry Peek
%C 103 Morris Street, Suite A Sebastopol, CA 95472
%D 1992
%G 1-56592-027-9
%I O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
%O 800-528-9994 800-998-9938 707-829-0515 fax: 707-829-0104
%O info@ora.com or nuts@ora.com rick.brown@onlinesys.com
%P 686
%T "MH & xmh: E-mail for Users & Programmers"
Other than being terse, the UNIX mail command is not very UNIX-like. It
combines a large number of functions into one program and, while it is possible
to shell out between operations, the ability to perform specific tasks relies
upon lengthy command line switch sequences, rather than being the default. MH
is much more akin to the UNIX culture, with a variety of logical commands for
specific operations which can be combined, as necessary, into shell script or
programming routines.
Thus, it would be understandable to see MH as, primarily, a programmer's
toolkit. With the explosion in UNIX-based Internet providers, the MH commands
would provide quick tie-ins to BBS front-end menus, or even such ambitious
tasks as a fully tutorial, but fully functional, email "lesson".
The perception of MH as only a development tool would, however, be unfortunate.
As Peek's book very clearly shows, MH is fully viable alongside mail, though
probably more demanding than elm or PINE. The tutorial section manages to give
a clear picture of a basic mail system, in very short order.
Peek has done an admirable job with this book. It manages to be not only a
tutorial, but a solid technical reference as well. The material is
approachable without ever becoming sappy; accurate without being pedantic; and,
complete without being verbose. The content is *very* thoughtful: at one
point a command is given which would invoke an editor, and the editor's exit
command is given for those who might be unfamiliar with it. The UNIX system is
assumed but knowledge is not, and any rational reader would be able to
understand this work in full.
This book is recommended for those developing mail "front ends", for UNIX users
wanting another (very functional) mail operation, or for technical writers
wanting an excellent example of documentation.
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994 BKMH&XMH.RVW 941124
======================
DECUS Canada Communications, Desktop, Education and Security group newsletters
Editor and/or reviewer ROBERTS@decus.ca, RSlade@sfu.ca, Rob Slade at 1:153/733
Author "Robert Slade's Guide to Computer Viruses" 0-387-94311-0/3-540-94311-0
This page was generated on January 4, 1995 by text2html.
Bug reports and comments to : mfx@pobox.com.