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Fetchmail is an open-source software utility for POSIX-compliant operating systems which is used to retrieve e-mail from a remote POP3, IMAP, or ODMR mail server to the user's local system. It was developed from the popclient program, written by Carl Harris.cite-ref-2[2]

Its chief significance is perhaps that its author, Eric S. Raymond, used it as a model to discuss his theories of open-source software development in a widely read and influential essay on software development methodologies The Cathedral and the Bazaar.

• Design

• See also

• References

• External links

By design, Fetchmail's only means of delivering messages is by submitting them to the local MTA/Message transfer agent or invoking a mail delivery agentcite-ref-3[3] like procmail, maildrop, or sendmail; delivering directly to mail folders such as maildir is not supported.

It is a C program evolved by gradual mutation from an ancestor already written in C.cite-ref-4[4]

Dan Bernstein, getmail creator Charles Cazabon and FreeBSD developer Terry Lambert, have criticized Fetchmail's design,cite-ref-5[5] its number of security holes,cite-ref-6[6] and that it was prematurely put into "maintenance mode". In 2004, a new team of maintainers took over Fetchmail development,cite-ref-7[7] and laid out development plans that broke with design decisions that Eric Raymond had made in earlier versions.cite-ref-8[8]

• Mail retrieval agent

• getmail

• fdm

• OfflineIMAP

cite-note-wikidata-4f646b80aeeb9fbdce81310ccb3d1474d86212c0-v20-11. citerefmatthias-andree2025Matthias Andree (17 June 2025). "fetchmail 6.5.4 is available (crash fix for unencrypted socket write error, wolfSSL compilation fix)". Retrieved 6 July 2025.

cite-note-22. ↑ citerefraymond-ericRaymond, Eric. "Eric S. Raymond's former Design Notes On Fetchmail". Retrieved 2007-04-03.

cite-note-33. ↑ "...or into an MDA program...", Section G1, The Fetchmail FAQ.

cite-note-44. ↑ citerefrichardson2004Richardson, Anthony (2004). "An Online Unix System Programming Course For Computer Engineering Students". 2004 Annual Conference Proceedings. ASEE Conferences: 9.197.1–9.197.10. doi:10.18260/1-2--13866.

cite-note-55. ↑ citereflambert-terryLambert, Terry. "UUCP must stay; fetchmail sucks (was list 'o things)". Retrieved 2007-04-05.

cite-note-66. ↑ citerefcazabon-charlesCazabon, Charles. "getmail frequently asked questions". Retrieved 2007-04-05.

cite-note-77. ↑ "Developer History". Retrieved 2007-04-05.

cite-note-88. ↑ "Design Notes On Fetchmail". Retrieved 2007-04-05.

• Official website

• Fetchmail at SourceForge

https://sourceforge.net/directory/os:windows/?q=fetchmail