LookOut-fix-version VS nix-bundle

If you're encountering the horrible Microsoft proprietary TNEF/winmail.dat issue the Lookout plugin is looking for help updating to a webextension: https://github.com/TB-throwback/LookOut-fix-version

Thunderbird is a fantastic email client, and I'm glad that it has reached a sustainable point. I have worked with plugins just after the switch to mailextensions, and it's great to see that the community has been considered with the changes they have had to make.

However, I am disappointed that TNEF decoding has been removed from the roadmap. The plugin I have been maintaining for this purpose is very old and in desperate need of a rewrite. Honestly, it just needs to be in the core of the client at this point. It is unclear why Microsoft has not completely removed their proprietary mail format, and why admins keep switching it on for outside users is anyone's guess.

The plugin I mentioned is the LookOut (fix version): https://github.com/TB-throwback/LookOut-fix-version. Pull requests are really and truly appreciated.

Github: https://github.com/TB-throwback/LookOut-fix-version

I admit that there is an element of, "but I chose an obscure and challenging linux variant, waaah why isn't it supported" here, but (a) there's currently no flatpak and (b) when, for goodness sakes, will major linux projects begin packaging for Nix/NixOS as a matter of course?

It's not hard, and the benefits go far outside merely supporting Nix, as e.g. a flake.nix file would allow this project to generate docker images, and appImage images, as basically afterthoughts. (See e.g. https://github.com/matthewbauer/nix-bundle.)

Nix flake support would also provide a perfectly reproducible build environment, which can help clarify dependencies, and thus help the project build achieve idempotence, but I'll save the full shill for some github issue.

In fact, I'm inclined to roll up my shirtsleeves and help make this real.

https://github.com/matthewbauer/nix-bundle perhaps?

Another way to approach this would be to advocate Nix as the build system for Flatpak or AppImage. Don't know what the status is of nix-bundle, but if it is possible to turn a Nix package into an AppImage with little extra work that would be ideal.

Nix itself is more focused on "distribute from this host with nix, to this other host with nix".

Though, here is e.g. https://github.com/matthewbauer/nix-bundle, which is supported as an experimental command in nix 2.4.

I believe this tool does: https://github.com/matthewbauer/nix-bundle

Yes, it's extremely powerful once you truly understand Nix.

There are efforts to improve documentation, but it still is lacking (I think the biggest problem is that Nix is so big, not just the OS but it can be utilized as a build system).

Just with NixOS is not exactly clear how can you for example build your custom image.

I think https://nix.dev/ is approaching the documentation from the right direction.

There are also many pieces that people built that you need to find.

For example some things that I found accidentally:

* https://github.com/matthewbauer/nix-bundle

* https://github.com/cleverca22/not-os

Unfortunately those side projects often have even worse documentation.