FLOSS Weekly Episode 820: Please Don't add AI Clippy to Thunderbird
Feb 12, 2025
Ryan Sipes, a contributor to the Thunderbird email client, dives into its intriguing history and future. He shares insights on Thunderbird's near merger with LibreOffice and its impressive donations. The discussion highlights the challenges of maintaining nonprofit status while fostering community support. Ryan emphasizes the need for open standards in email and the potential for AI in spam management. Plus, he addresses the transition of K9 Mail into Thunderbird’s Android app, showcasing the importance of local clients in a web-dominated world.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Thunderbird and LibreOffice
- Thunderbird almost joined LibreOffice.
- Mozilla considered different homes for Thunderbird due to sustainability challenges.
Thunderbird's Funding Struggles
- Thunderbird struggled at Mozilla due to lack of sustainable funding, unlike Firefox.
- They explored various options, including joining LibreOffice, before deciding to stay with Mozilla Foundation.
Transparency with Users
- Be transparent with your users about your project's financial needs.
- Give users clear ways to support your project, not just through development contributions.