* update documentation for mu4e

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djcb
2011-12-23 16:48:29 +02:00
parent aa9b831682
commit eac6b27cd2

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@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ Texts.
Welcome to @t{mu4e} (@emph{Mu-For-Emacs})! @t{mu4e} is an @t{emacs}
based e-mail client, based on the @t{mu} e-mail search engine. @t{mu4e}
supports GNU Emacs 23 and later.
supports GNU Emacs 23 and later. Also, it assumes a Unix-like system; it has
been tested on Debian GNU/Linux.
@menu
* Introduction::
@ -61,34 +62,32 @@ exactly like I want it to. An even more important goal for me was to write
some bigger program in Emacs Lisp (@t{elisp}), to better understand the
language and its idioms.
Specifically, when it comes to @t{emacs}-based clients, I have tried a few of
them. I never really got into @emph{Gnus}; I think it is by far the most
popular @t{emacs}-based mail client, but I found it hard to make behave the
way I like it; and in particular, I do not like its indirect approach to
Maildirs.
When it comes to @t{emacs}-based clients, I have tried a few of them. I never
really got into @emph{Gnus}; I think it is by far the most popular
@t{emacs}-based mail client, but I found it hard to make behave the way I like
it; and in particular, I did not like its indirect approach to Maildirs.
@t{mu4e} has more common with programs such as
@t{mu4e} has things in common with programs such as
@t{notmuch}@footnote{@url{http://notmuchmail.org}} and @t{md}, but - in my
humble opinion- it offers some unique features as well. Basically, the mail
handling (deleting, moving etc.) is inspired by @emph{Wanderlust} (another
emacs-based e-mail client) @t{mutt} and @t{dired}, while it takes some cues
from @emph{GMail} with respect to being search-based. Thus, all the 'state' is
in my maildirs, so I can switch between client and even synchronize over
@abbr{IMAP}. In practice, this means that @t{mu4e} can work fully
search-based, but also resemble a more 'traditional' folder-based e-mail
client.
emacs-based e-mail client), @t{mutt} and @t{dired}, while it takes some cues
from @emph{GMail} with respect to being search-based.
@t{mu4e} tries to keep all the 'state' in the maildirs, so I can switch
clients, synchronize over @abbr{IMAP} or backup with @t{rsync}.
@node What mu4e does and doesn't do
@section What mu4e does and doesn't do
@t{mu4e} (and @t{mu}) does @emph{not} deal with getting your e-mail
messages from some e-mail server; instead, this task is delegated to other
tools, such as @t{offlineimap}. As long as the messages end up in a
Maildir, @t{mu4e}/@t{mu} are happy to deal with them.
@t{mu4e} (and @t{mu}) does @emph{not} deal with getting your e-mail messages
from some e-mail server; instead, this task is delegated to other tools, such
as @t{offlineimap} or @t{isync}. As long as the messages end up in a Maildir,
@t{mu4e}/@t{mu} are happy to deal with them.
@t{mu4e} also does @emph{not} implement sending messages either; instead, it
depends on the true-and-tested @emph{smtpmail} which is part of emacs. In
fact, @t{mu4e} piggybacks on Gnus' message editor; @inforef{Top,Gnus message
@t{mu4e} also does @emph{not} implement sending messages; instead, it depends
on the true-and-tested @emph{smtpmail} which is part of emacs. In addition,
@t{mu4e} piggybacks on Gnus' message editor; @inforef{Top,Gnus message
editor,message}.
Thus, many of the traditional things an e-mail client needs to do, are
@ -99,7 +98,6 @@ messages around and so on.
It's important to note the @t{mu4e} requires your mail to be in
Maildir-format, typically stored in the directory @file{~/Maildir}.
@node Getting started
@chapter Getting started
@ -147,15 +145,16 @@ manually. Please @ref{Example configuration} for a working example of this.
@node Getting mail
@section Getting mail
In order for @t{mu} (and by extension, @t{mu4e}) to work, we need
to have our e-mail stored in a Maildir. If you were already using Maildirs,
your lucky, otherwise you will need to get your mail there in some other way.
In order for @t{mu} (and, by extension, @t{mu4e}) to work, we need to have our
e-mail messages stored in a Maildir. If you were already using Maildirs, you
are lucky; otherwise, you will need to get your mail there in some other way.
If you are using some external @abbr{IMAP} or @abbr{POP} server, you can use
tools like @t{getmail} and @t{offlineimap} to download your message into a
Maildir-directory (@file{~/Maildir}, usually). If you are using a local
tools like @t{getmail}, @t{offlineimap} or @t{isync} to download your message
into a Maildir-directory (@file{~/Maildir}, usually). If you are using a local
mailserver (such as @emph{Postfix} or @t{qmail}), you can teach them to
deliver into a Maildir as well, maybe in combination with @t{procmail}.
deliver into a Maildir as well, maybe in combination with @t{procmail}. A bit
of googling should be able to provide you with the details.
@node Indexing your messages
@section Indexing your messages
@ -477,7 +476,8 @@ Some notes:
@itemize
@item You can customize which header fields are shown using
@t{mu4e-view-fields}.
@item TODO
@item You can customize the date format by setting
@code{mu4e-date-format-long}, using the format of @code{format-time-string}.
@end itemize
You can find most things you can do with this message in the @emph{View} menu,
@ -790,7 +790,7 @@ In the design, the next question was what format @t{mu} should use for its
output for @t{mu4e} (@t{emacs}) to process. Some other programs use
@abbr{JSON} here, but it seemed easier (and possibly, more efficient) just to
talk to @t{emacs} in its native language: @emph{s-expressions} (to be precise:
@emph{plists}), and interpret those using the @{emacs}-function
@emph{plists}), and interpret those using the @t{emacs}-function
@code{read-from-string}.
So, now let's look how we process the data from @t{mu server} in