[Python-Dev] 2nd thought: fully qualified host names

[Guido van Rossum]

> Hi Guido!
> 
> After submitting the patch to smtplib, I got a bad feeling
> about only trying to get the FQDN for the localhost case.
> 
> Shouldn't _get_fdqn_hostname() try to get the FQDN
> for every argument passed? Currently it does so only
> for len(name) == 0
> 
> I think (but couldn't immediately find a reference) it
> is required by some RFC. There is at least an internet
> draft by the the ietf that says it is required
> and a lot of references (mostly from postfix) to some
> RFC, too.
> 
> Of course, automatically trying to get the fully
> qualified domain name would mean that the programmer
> looses some flexibility (by loosing responsibility).
> 
> If that is a problem I would make _get_fqdn_hostname
> a public function (and choose a better name). helo()
> and ehlo() could still call it for the local host case.
> 
> or-should-I-just-leave-things-as-they-are-ly y'rs
> Peter
> 
> P.S.: I am cc'ing the list so everyone and Thomas can
>       rush in and provide their RFC knowledge.

Good idea -- I don't know anything about SMTP!

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.pythonlabs.com/~guido/)