this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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[–] BaumGeist@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 hour ago

I came here because of the clickbait title, ready to lambast thunderbird for the empty promises... But it turns out that they're pretty clear on the specifics of what separates them from Thunderbird.

But I'm not gonna let that righteous indignation go to waste, so instead I'm gonma rip Sourav Rudra('s writing skill) a new one. Prepare your (writing skill's) ass for a kicking Sourav.

Betterbird: A Thunderbird Fork That Promises Better Features

Better features?! Can I also have updated elements and improved aspects? Maybe superior components too??? Ah. A girl can dream.

Vague buzzwords and nothing more. "Better features" is not only subjective, but also vague enough to be almost entirely meaningless. Let's hope the rest of the article does better.

Thankfully, the author included a shortlist of "Must-Know Bits." I'm sure that's a good summary of what's to follow.

— Features many long-requested features.

I'm glad they're finally listening to my request of compatibility with the Lovense remote control vibrator app's API. Now I can feel good about receiving emails instead of stressed! They sure took their sweet time, it's been long [time units] since I requested it!

How long and who requested? Or better yet, what features????? Why should I care???????? Please, give me somethinbg concrete to grip onto!

— A more streamlined alternative to Thunderbird.

Streamlined! Wow! Is it also more efficient, and higher quality? Will they make it sustainable? Maybe it can also be more ethically sourved.

Could you be more vague please? This almost accidentally told me something about the changes they've made.

— Highly customizable, thanks to Add-ons and Themes.

Like Thunderbird? Like the addons you can find at the official Thunderbird site at addons.thunderbird.net?

Do they also plan to send and receive email in betterbird? Will it work with a graphical desktop environment? Will it be computer software? Or does the failure to mention these assumed "features" imply that it will diverge from Thunderbird in these key aspects?


Deeply shit lead-in. The rest of the article stands in stark contrast, being actually specific and informative. It's like ol Sourav wrote an actually good article, then some idiot editor slapped it in ChatGPT and told it to fart out a title, subtitle, and highlights list. And then ChatGPT ignored all that and made the most generic tech article heading of all time.

FWIW, itsfoss.com: you should fire that editor for being a completely incompetent moron.

[–] kittenroar@beehaw.org 1 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

Thunderbird, and probably betterbird, is too bloated for my taste.

[–] mactan@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 hours ago

all you really need is a steady hand and a magnetized needle. kernel is bloat

[–] NewOldGuard@hexbear.net 11 points 8 hours ago

The founder of this project says he created it because of “cancer culture” at Mozilla after he got banned from the thunderbird project for toxic and derogatory conduct. I’m good on that I’d rather stick to thunderbird thanks

[–] VintageGenious@sh.itjust.works 5 points 8 hours ago

All I want is Microsoft Exchange support (I didn't choose to need it...)

[–] Aatube@kbin.melroy.org 22 points 15 hours ago (3 children)

Looking at the linked-from-the-“due to differences”-link emails… jesus christ… so that’s what people mean by Mozilla prioritizing greedy money…

[–] SineNomineAnonymous@lemmy.ml 37 points 12 hours ago (3 children)

If you read the developer's background and reasons for the fork, it's actually a lot more....... cringe.

Pretty much, the guy lost his shit because Mozilla is woke / SJW / DEI and all the lovely buzz words used by certain people.

[–] NotSteve_@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 hours ago

Got that vibe when he said he was ousted by weaponized cancel culture

[–] NiaKitty@beehaw.org 10 points 10 hours ago

Thanks for sharing this, looked into it myself and that's quite unfortunate.

Why does every piece of cool software end up having some reactionary midlife crisis behind them?

[–] Aatube@kbin.melroy.org 9 points 12 hours ago

That would make sense. I'd like some links.

[–] Sekoia@lemmy.blahaj.zone 28 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

Ngl that link puts me slightly off. It reads exactly like what people booted for very good reasons say

The following paragraph shows how so-called cancel culture was used weaponising [...]

And in the email, Mozilla talks about him violating their "inclusivity" policy... we also don't know what was reported, only the reasons stated.

Not saying that it wasn't unjust, just that we only have 1 perspective and it's written in a way that raises some red flags.

[–] RiikkaTheIcePrincess@pawb.social 11 points 10 hours ago

Pretty bad when one side's perspective makes them look awful and the other side is the one accusing them of being awful 😬

[–] Aatube@kbin.melroy.org 4 points 12 hours ago

I agree that I'd be very curious as to what the violations actually are, but...

  1. No specific instances of violations are referenced in the CPG emails
  2. There's no language in the CPG emails regarding prior warnings
  3. Suspension from the council is clearly out-of-process
[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 0 points 14 hours ago

Mozilla doesn't do loose coupling of UI and core, huh?

[–] savvywolf@pawb.social 30 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)
[–] k_rol@lemmy.ca 8 points 14 hours ago
[–] Aimeeloulm@feddit.uk 1 points 10 hours ago

One bug that irks me is deleting an email on a folder with sorting such as grouped sorting and Thunderbird loses the sorting settings, then I have to reapply the sorting settings again.....gah

[–] Rade0nfighter@lemmy.world 4 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

I had no idea!

Wonder if any of that stuff will make it upstream and if not if there’s good reason?

[–] Nilz@sopuli.xyz 10 points 15 hours ago

As per the FAQ:

We will submit all changes to upstream to eventually benefit Thunderbird.

[–] vort3@lemmy.ml 3 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Is there a way to use this as a drop in replacement easily? Like maybe move my Thunderbird profile folder into a Bettterbord folder, or maybe an automatic import option?

This looks promising but I don't really want to set up my email accounts and settings from scratch.

[–] Nilz@sopuli.xyz 5 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

As per the FAQ they seem to share the exact same profile so you can seamlessly switch between them (provided both are the same dot release)

[–] MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 14 hours ago (3 children)

I just gave it a try and it does not pick up my existing Thunderbird data automatically, or prompt to import it.

[–] Nilz@sopuli.xyz 1 points 13 hours ago

Same here :(

[–] Sturgist@lemmy.ca 1 points 13 hours ago
[–] mcmxci@mimiclem.me 1 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

The instructions change if you're using flatpak. I was only able to get it to work with a manual import

[–] 7eter@feddit.org 3 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

for TB -> TB-flatpack simply pasting from ~/.thunderbird/ to ~/.var/app/org.mozilla.Thunderbird/.thunderbird/ did work for me. I might try betterbird sometime.

[–] MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago)

I'm on Windows on this PC, so nothing being isolated here.

[–] diykeyboards@lemmy.world 2 points 16 hours ago

This is amazing. Thanks!