Re: [RFC] replace iCalendar code by libical

[Jack <ostroffjh users sourceforge net>]

On 2019.12.09 21:01, andré via balsa-list wrote:
> Le 19-12-08 à 20 h 43, Peter Bloomfield a écrit :
> > Hi Albrecht:
> >
> > On 12/08/2019 09:02:37 AM Sun, Albrecht Dreß wrote:
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > Balsa has some limited support for dealing with text/calendar  
> > > parts, typically containing appointment (VEVENT) requests to which  
> > > the user can reply.  IIRC, I wrote the code more than ~10 years  
> > > ago, according to a subset of the definitions from RFC 2445 and  
> > > 2446 which meanwhile have been replaced by RFC 5545 and 5546.
> > >
> > > I now noticed that the old code is not able to deal with  
> > > text/calendar parts created by M$ Exchange properly any more.
> > >
> > > As a possible improvement, the libical library [1] claims to be  
> > > able to deal with RFC 5545 and 5546 compliant items.  Therefore,  
> > > instead of re-inventing the wheel (i.e. fix or re-write the /very/  
> > > old Balsa code), I propose to use this library instead.
> > >
> > > Before investing time into a migration, I would be interested in  
> > > your opinion:
> > >
> > > Is it acceptable to add an additional dependency on a (though  
> > > somewhat standard) library?
> > > And should we make it mandatory or not (in the latter case,  
> > > text/calendar parts would be displayed and printed like text/plain,  
> > > which is usually confusing)?
> > >
> > > Opinions?
> > >
> > > Best, Albrecht.
> > >
> > > [1] <https://github.com/libical/libical>
> >
> > The added dependency isn't an issue for a GNOME user, as libical is  
> > required by much of the desktop, and it looks like an easy install  
> > on any other distro that doesn't have it as an integral part. So I'd  
> > be in favor of making it mandatory; others should feel free to  
> > disagree.
> >
> > I have no idea about the effort involved in the migration, but if it  
> > simplifies the code it would be good. Let me know if I can help!
> >
> > Best,
> >
> > Peter
>
> I use the MATE desktop (based on Gnome 2), and although it isn't  
> required by any application, it must be suggested, since it is  
> installed.
> It is very small, so there shouldn't be any problem making it  
> required by Balsa.
>
> André

I'm on a primarily KDE system, and already have a half dozen other apps  
pulling in libical, so I'd say go for it.

Jack