[news.software.nn] compressed mailboxes

wb8foz@mthvax.cs.miami.edu (David Lesher,,255RTFM,255rtfm) (11/15/90)

As an active user of nn and elm, I keep filling up disk space. ;-{

I wonder if it would be possible to have links in them such that
selected mailboxes are kept compressed; when accessed by nn/elm, it
recognizes such, uncompresses it for access, (and/or appending) and
recompresses it when finished.

First, would this really save space? I know the disk overhead for the
.Z headers on small files may be counterproductive. But large
files look like a win.

There would be a time penalty, but potential user's machines seem to
vary from 100% disk bound all the way to CPU choked. In some places on
that line, it would make sense.

Comments/flames [compressed, please -- to save bandwidth ;-} ;-}]

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