GNU bug report logs - #76195
Obsoleting mail/hashcash.el

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From: help-debbugs <at> gnu.org (GNU bug Tracking System)
To: Stefan Kangas <stefankangas <at> gmail.com>
Subject: bug#76195: closed (Re: Obsoleting mail/hashcash.el)
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2025 21:54:03 +0000

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Your bug report

#76195: Obsoleting mail/hashcash.el

which was filed against the emacs package, has been closed.

The explanation is attached below, along with your original report.
If you require more details, please reply to 76195 <at> debbugs.gnu.org.

-- 
76195: https://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=76195
GNU Bug Tracking System
Contact help-debbugs <at> gnu.org with problems

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From: Stefan Kangas <stefankangas <at> gmail.com>
To: Andrew Cohen <acohen <at> ust.hk>
Cc: Eric Abrahamsen <eric <at> ericabrahamsen.net>,
 David Bremner <david <at> tethera.net>, 76195-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org,
 Bill Wohler <wohler <at> newt.com>, "Dirk-Jan C. Binnema" <djcb <at> djcbsoftware.nl>
Subject: Re: Obsoleting mail/hashcash.el
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2025 21:53:47 +0000

Version: 31.1

Andrew Cohen <acohen <at> ust.hk> writes:

>>>>>> "SK" == Stefan Kangas <stefankangas <at> gmail.com> writes:
>
>     SK> Stefan Kangas <stefankangas <at> gmail.com> writes:
>     >> Severity: wishlist
>     >>
>     >> The mail/hashcash.el library implements an Emacs wrapper around
>     >> hashcash, where the idea was that you added a small amount of
>     >> "proof of work" to an Email header, which if everyone used it
>     >> would be expensive for spammers:
>     >>
>
> [...]
>
>     >> This might be nice in theory, but it is irrelevant as an
>     >> anti-spam measure on today's internet, since almost no one uses
>     >> it.  Let's not mislead users to waste energy using it.
>     >>
>     >> I suggest that we mark it as obsolete.
>
> An informal survey on emacs.gnus.general suggests no one is using it
> (although only a tiny number of responses).
>
> I suggest making to obsolete.

Thanks!  Done in commit 250f4214752, 074b32d53f7, and 706970fc25d.

I'm therefore closing this bug report.

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From: Stefan Kangas <stefankangas <at> gmail.com>
To: bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Subject: Obsoleting mail/hashcash.el
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2025 22:40:26 -0800

Severity: wishlist

The mail/hashcash.el library implements an Emacs wrapper around
hashcash, where the idea was that you added a small amount of "proof of
work" to an Email header, which if everyone used it would be expensive
for spammers:

     "The email anti-spam tool, like the proof-of-work algorithm, is
     also called hashcash and is used to create stamps to attach to mail
     to add a micro-cost to sending mail to deter spamming.  The main
     use of the hashcash stamp is as a white-listing hint to help
     hashcash users avoid losing email due to content based and
     blacklist based anti-spam systems."  - http://www.hashcash.org

This might be nice in theory, but it is irrelevant as an anti-spam
measure on today's internet, since almost no one uses it.  Let's not
mislead users to waste energy using it.

I suggest that we mark it as obsolete.

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