On Mon, Oct 18, 1999 at 03:42:09AM -0400, Mike Bilow wrote: > For example, the 'mailto.pl' script dating from 1995 is mostly an example > of how to crack a query string and exec 'sendmail,' neither of which are > especially good ideas. As of Perl 5, the 'CGI.pm' module is a standard > component and its use is strongly preferred instead of manually cracking > query strings. Also, invoking 'sendmail' is deprecated in favor of using > CPAN packages 'Mail::Mailer' or at least 'Net::SMTP' now. Anyone who > actually tried using the supplied 'mailto.pl' script as an example of how > to write a CGI program would be wasting their time.
I agree that mailto.pl is out of date, and that CGI.pm should be used. However, I disagree with the thought process which suggests that Net::SMTP is in any way a replacement for sendmail. The semantics are totally different (sendmail queues while Net::SMTP does not). Also, for this reason, using Mail::Mailer is not always advisable -- when you use it you're implying that mail system semantics are irrelevant to your application. In most (not all) cases, for cgi work, you want to use a mail system which queues mail. In most cases where you need to use a mail system which does not queue mail you also don't want that mail being delivered from inside a cgi program. So while I agree, overall, with the points you're making I disagree on this one particular issue. Thanks, -- Raul
