NOTES FOR APPLICANTS FOR "SUMMER OF CODE" APACHE/SMTP PROJECT

For another view, and another potential mentor within Apache,
see http://people.apache.org/~mestrade/mod_smtpd.html

Speaking for myself:

* Our primary interest in this is to enable the Apache filter chain to
  be used for email filtering, including but not limited to spam 
  filtering.  I don't think you need to produce a full antispam armoury, 
  but I'd like to see at least one useful filter as proof-of-concept.

* It'll need an SMTP protocol handler as frontend, and a delivery 
  mechanism as backend.  I think the latter should use the mod_proxy
  framework to enable messages to be passed on to existing delivery
  agents: this will deal with a lot of potential difficulties.
  But feel free to make your own suggestions!  Note that
  reliability is extremely important in SMTP - more so than HTTP -
  hence re-use of proven delivery agents is a Good Idea.

* Don't reinvent the wheel.  There's lots of smtpd code out there to
  be re-used.  But anything you re-use MUST have a license compatible
  with the ASF one!

* Don't just rehash the above - add your own ideas.  You'll get the most
  support from us if you are going to *both* do what we want *and*
  contribute your own ideas.

* We're here to help you make best use of the Apache architecture,
  and offer guidance over what will be acceptable/useful to us.
  We assume you already know standard C programming and sufficient
  system basics for relevant operating systems, and are capable of
  reading RFCs for yourself.