Betterbird - email client

[webfork]

I always enjoy reading about what causes a project fork to happen, but I couldn't find anything on the topic not posted by the unhappy dev. Also, this one is a "soft" fork, meaning not independent of the original project.

Anyway, I haven't tested this program as I'm on the fence: because I've been using Thunderbird for many years without issue, the suggestion that the program is somehow bug ridden seems odd. There do seem to be some nice feature improvements, but I'm not seeing the case made that something is clearly broken and Bb fixed it. Just that some features haven't been implemented.

Anyway here's some project links for anyone who feels like digging into the software. It may or may not still be considered a developmental beta, I couldn't get a clear beat there.

Home: https://www.betterbird.eu/
Download: https://www.betterbird.eu/downloads/index.php (includes a portable version)
GitHub: https://github.com/Betterbird

Add-ons by the dev: https://addons.thunderbird.net/mk/thund ... er/jorgk3/

Mirror: https://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/ ... bird.shtml
Reddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments ... f_mozilla/

[FileHandler]

I've been using Thunderbird for many years without issue, the suggestion that the program is somehow bug ridden seems odd

I fully agree. And yet I decided to try it out. So far, there seems to be no difference to Thunderbird. Same features, but for some reason it only takes up 240 MB (empty, without mails), whereas Thunderbird weighs in at almost twice the size. The lighter, the better, that alone makes me stick with it.

[Midas]

The lighter, the better, that alone makes me stick with it.

Never having been a user of Thunderbird, that aspect alone is a strong argument for me to try Betterbird instead, in this era of diminishing reliable email clients...

My ancient Windows Mail (which FTR I was plenty satisfied with) recently stopped being capable of sending emails through my employers Outlook servers.

[freakazoid]

Same features, but for some reason it only takes up 240 MB (empty, without mails), whereas Thunderbird weighs in at almost twice the size. The lighter, the better, that alone makes me stick with it.

Thunderbird Portable includes both x86 and x64 versions, which would explain the bump in filesize.

I wouldn't really rely on a small fork of Thunderbird unless there were enough quality-of-life changes that would justify the move to it.

[FileHandler]

Thunderbird Portable includes both x86 and x64 versions, which would explain the bump in filesize.

Of course, you are right **slapping forehead**, that explains it. I wonder if I could simply delete the 32-folder or whether this might cause problems with the PortableApps host. Guess I'll just give it a try ...

[Midas]

I wouldn't really rely on a small fork of Thunderbird unless there were enough quality-of-life changes that would justify the move to it.

Regarding which I'd recommend a quick read through the FAQ page:

[Betterbird] is 100% compatible with Thunderbird's ESR version. You can install the same dot release of Thunderbird in parallel and switch between Betterbird and Thunderbird on the same profile without problems and without needing the -allow-downgrade command line switch.

@ https://www.betterbird.eu/faq/

As for the reasons for choosing Betterbird, see https://www.betterbird.eu/#featuretable...

[freakazoid]

Of course, you are right **slapping forehead**, that explains it. I wonder if I could simply delete the 32-folder or whether this might cause problems with the PortableApps host. Guess I'll just give it a try ...

Yeah, you can delete whichever version you want to delete and the launcher should be able to detect it. If you are strapped for RAM, you can remove the x64 version; I usually remove the x64 one personally.

Regarding which I'd recommend a quick read through the FAQ page

I already took a quick look and those features were not enough for me to switch.

[FileHandler]

Yeah, you can delete whichever version you want to delete and the launcher should be able to detect it. If you are strapped for RAM, you can remove the x64 version; I usually remove the x64 one personally.

That did the trick. Works indeed, as easy as that. Thanks! Much appreciated.

[DzejPy]

Author of Betterbird has created a corrected portable version.

Info on Betterbird website: https://www.betterbird.eu/support/index.html - "What's the story with the portable version?"

Author's discussion with John T. Haller on portableapps.com: https://portableapps.com/node/69239

It looks very good.

[Midas]

Info on Betterbird website: https://www.betterbird.eu/support/index.html - "What's the story with the portable version?"

FTR, I reckon it's worth copying it here in full:

What's the story with the portable version?

Neither Thunderbird nor Betterbird are designed for portable use. The profile contains files which record native absolute path names ('folderCache.json', 'prefs.js', 'extensions.json', 'addonStartup.json.lz4') and as soon as you move the profile, things break. The Thunderbird team do not offer a portable version and they are not connected to all the portable apps that exist. PortableApps.com is the the most well-known and sophisticated, they even have a trademark deal with Mozilla. They mitigate the native absolute path issues and their portable cleans up these folders 'C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Thunderbird' and 'C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird'.

By popular demand, Betterbird ships officially as a portable version, but it has the same issues mentioned above. We've written our own simple launcher program, 'BetterbirdLauncher.exe' whose source is published. As of January 2023 in version 102.7.1-bb29 the launcher program can be registered as default e-mail application using, for example, PortableRegistrator. Once registered, the launcher program must be selected as default e-mail app in Windows, see screenshot here. When registered, mailto: links will open in the portable Betterbird.

Update September 2023: From Betterbird 115.3.0-bb13 we are shipping a new launcher program which fully supports moving the portable folder.

A word about moving the portable profile, the initial purpose of portable applications: When moving the profile, it is possible that add-ons don't work any more. In that case, delete the add-on startup cache in profile\addonStartup.json.lz4 and set preference extensions.startupScanScopes to 5 (or 7 when using light weight themes) in the Config Editor.

[fang-face]

Am I right: betterbird is not in the database? For some other reason than

those features were not enough for me to switch.

?
Well, now it is.

[freakazoid]

Am I right: betterbird is not in the database? For some other reason than

those features were not enough for me to switch.

?
Well, now it is.

Anyone is free to submit a new app to TPFC. There are no restrictions except that you would need members to vote for the app to be visible to the public.

About Betterbird's unique features, the only one that I like is the better system tray support for folders.



That would probably be the main thing I would switch to Betterbird for, but until Thunderbird starts to really get on my nerves, I'll continue using TB for now.