Beyond Linux® From Scratch - Version 8.1

Chapter 43. Other X-based Programs

Balsa-2.5.3

Introduction to Balsa

The Balsa package contains a GNOME-2 based mail client.

This package is known to build and work properly using an LFS-8.1 platform.

Package Information

Additional Downloads

Balsa Dependencies

Required

Aspell-0.60.6.1, enchant-1.6.0, GMime-2.6.23, libESMTP-1.0.6, and Rarian-0.8.1

Recommended

PCRE-8.41

Optional

Compface-1.5.2, gtksourceview-3.24.3, libnotify-0.7.7, MIT Kerberos V5-1.15.1, MTA (that provides a sendmail command, note that it is only used if you didn't install the required libESMTP package), OpenLDAP-2.4.45, OpenSSL-1.1.0f, SQLite-3.20.0, WebKitGTK+-2.16.6, yelp-tools, and python-html2text

Optional to Build S/MIME Support

GPGME-1.9.0

User Notes: http://wiki.linuxfromscratch.org/blfs/wiki/balsa

Installation of Balsa

Fix a build issue with OpenSSL-1.1.0f: 

patch -Np1 -i ../balsa-2.5.3-openssl-1.1.0-1.patch

Install Balsa by running the following commands: 

./configure --prefix=/usr            \
            --sysconfdir=/etc        \
            --localstatedir=/var/lib \
            --without-html-widget    \
            --without-libnotify      &&
make

This package does not come with a test suite.

Now, as the root user: 

make install

Command Explanations

--enable-smime: Use this option to enable S/MIME support if GnuPG-2.x.x is installed.

--with-canberra: Enable libcanbera support.

--with-compface: Enable compface support.

--witg-gcr: Use libgcr for TLS support.

--with-gss: Enable GSSAPI support.

--with-ldap: Use this option to enable LDAP address book support if OpenLDAP is installed.

--with-libsecret: Enable strong password support.

--with-gpgme: Use this option to enable GPG support if “GnuPG Made Easy” (GPGME) is installed.

-with-html-widget: enable the html renderer (remove --without-html-widget).

--with-sqlite: Use this option to enable SQLite address book support if SQLite is installed.

Configuring Balsa

Configuration Information

All configuration of Balsa is done through the Balsa menu system, with mailbox configuration done with the Settings—>Preferences menu.

If you are unable to connect to your ISP, they probably don't support APOP. Disable it in Settings/Preferences/POP3/advanced.

If you enable filters for your incoming POP3 mail, you must have Procmail-3.22 installed, as the incoming mail will be handed off to procmail for processing.

Contents

Installed Programs: balsa and balsa-ab
Installed Libraries: None
Installed Directories: /etc/sounds/events, /usr/share/balsa, and /usr/share/sounds/balsa

Short Descriptions

balsa

is a glib based mail client.

balsa-ab

is the address-book application used by balsa.

Last updated on 2017-08-30 20:57:11 -0700