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.