efaq: Rmail writes to /var/spool/mail
11.5 Why does Rmail need to write to ‘/var/spool/mail’?
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This is the behavior of the ‘movemail’ program which Rmail uses. This
indicates that ‘movemail’ is configured to use lock files.
RMS writes:
Certain systems require lock files to interlock access to mail
files. On these systems, ‘movemail’ must write lock files, or you
risk losing mail. You simply must arrange to let ‘movemail’ write
them.
Other systems use the ‘flock’ system call to interlock access. On
these systems, you should configure ‘movemail’ to use ‘flock’.
Info Catalog
efaq: Sorting the messages in an Rmail folder
efaq: Mail and news
efaq: Replying to the sender of a message