[prog] Mailing list software - how does the emailing work? (mass bcc?)

[Gareth Anderson]

Hi,

I probably should have defined things a little more.

Its a personal project and the aim is to create a mailing list
software with PHP and mySQL, using existing software is not acceptable
(because that would ruin the point of the project).

> The traditional way to make mailing lists is to use alias files:
>   http://www.uwsg.iu.edu/usail/mail/aliasing/
> The link documents Sendmail alias files but I think that most other SMTP
> servers support them.

I had a very brief look, and will try to look into it more in the next few days.
Are aliases very flexible?

We're dealing with a database based solution where users can be
subscribed to zero or more lists (a little like linuxchix really).

We will not have root access to the box, only user access.

> A massive BCC (or an alias file) is the most efficient solution. Looping
> through the addresses is less efficient but is also an option,
> especially if you want to customize content for each recipient.

A massive BCC sounds good to me :)


> That depends on how you allow the mailing list to be used. Normally only
> the owner of an address can subscribe that address (this is what
> LinuxChix does), and in that case you don't have to worry about abuse.
> Don't be afraid of big mailing lists: even if thousands of people are
> subscribed to a list, you are not a spammer as long as the people chose
> to be on the list and can unsubscribe whenever they want. However,
> mailing lists (including LinuxChix) often allow only subscribers to
> post, to avoid spam from random address harvesters.

The kind of mailing list we're talking about is different to a
community style one.
These are a kind of update list not a discussion list.
So for example you email the various members the weekly newsletter or
something, general discussion would not be allowed (we're both
thinking of very different lists).

Thanks for the help,
Gareth