[msmtp-users] Passwords

[Michael Witten <mfwitten@...166...>]

Hello,

I've noticed that many unix tools require that a user
specify account passwords in config files.

To me, this seems like a terrible idea, and indeed
msmtp at least prompts for a password when it needs
one.

However, what if I don't want msmtp to prompt me? For
instance, it seems reasonable to me that someone might
like to create a higher-level program that uses msmtp
to do the grunt work; in many cases, that higher-level
program might like to manage the password in its own
way.

Sure it's possible that this higher-level program
could provide that password via stdin, but that
seems like a flaky endeavor.

In short,

	Why are passwords dealt with in the way that
	they are?

	Is it dangerous to provide an option such as
	--password?

	Is it reasonable to use stdin?

	Why are so many people willing to write their
	passwords in config files?

Thanks,
Michael Witten