[Imap-protocol] Fwd: iOS IMAP IDLE (Standard "Push Email") Deficiency, Explanation?

[Mark Crispin]

On Mon, 4 Oct 2010, John Snow wrote:

>> That assumes that the IMAP server notifies instantly, instead of polling

>> internally at a fixed interval.  This, in turn, assumes some form of

>> message passing between the MDA and the IMAP server.

> That's true.  I took that as am implied requirement for implementing IDLE.


There's no enforcement of such a requirement.  If IDLE is simply a
checklist requirement (which it usually is) then the simplest way to get
it checked is via an internal poll.

After all, who's gonna know?


> We live in a world full of impatient people.


How will they know?  This is a day and age when the vast majority of users
don't even have access to Received headers, much less can interpret them.

-- Mark --

http://panda.com/mrc
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to eat for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed sheep contesting the vote.