Email and list servers

Email was used to communicate and collaborate long before the Internet or earlier wide-area networks. Programmers and users of time-sharing systems could use email to send messages to other users of the same computer who might be in different locations or logged in at different times. When networks were developed, email was extended to send messages between computers on the network.

A programmer called Ray Tomlinson is credited with writing the first network-based email program. His program could send email to any ARPANet user and he introduced the now familiar syntax <user name>@<host computer name>. Even though it has been beset by spam, email remains a very common communication and collaboration application to this day,

One can send email to a single recipient or to a group. List servers (sometimes called listservs) allow one to send a message to a group of subscribers who share a common interest.

There are many list server programs, and they can be configured in many ways. For example, a list may be moderated, allowing the list owner to screen messages before broadcasting them, and others are unmoderated, automatically broadcasting any email that is posted. A list may also be open or closed. One must be approved by the list owner before joining a closed list.

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