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Thinking out loud about 2nd-gen email (gabrielsieben.tech)

396 points by gjsman-1000 · 819 days ago · 301 comments on HN

Article summary

The article discusses the idea of a second-generation email system, potentially simplifying the email stack and eliminating complexities such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. A proposed solution involves introducing a new MX record, MX2, which would allow for improved authenticity verifications and reduced spam. The article's specifics are not available, but the comments reveal a discussion around the feasibility and potential benefits of such a system. The idea is to make running a self-hosted email stack easier and reduce the complexity of email deliverability.

Main themes

  • Email Evolution
  • Simplifying Email Stack
  • Spam Reduction
  • MX Record Updates
  • HTML Email Standardization
  • Deliverability Complexity

What commenters say

  • Introducing a new email system that is 100% interoperable with the existing solution could lead to a gradual transition to the new system.
  • The complexity of email deliverability is a major obstacle to improving email, and a new system could help alleviate this issue.
  • Some argue that a subset of HTML should be used for email to prevent abuse and ensure compatibility, while others suggest using Markdown or a lightweight markup language.
  • The use of dynamic content in emails, such as AMP for Email, is seen as a potential solution to some email problems, but others view it as an attempt by Google to exert market power.
  • The proposal to introduce a new MX record, MX2, could be a viable solution, but its success depends on the support of major email providers such as Microsoft and Google.
  • Some commenters believe that email should not have been extended to support HTML in the first place, and that a simpler, text-based format would be preferable.
  • Restricting HTML and CSS in emails to prevent abuse and ensure compatibility is seen as a necessary step towards improving email.
  • The idea of using a standardized HTML specification for email, such as a subset of HTML5, is proposed as a potential solution to the complexity of email rendering.