Notes on AnGenMap Development

• Origin

The AnGenMap discussion mailing list was started in 1993 on Iowa State University's Vincent Unix system using mail forward list with an account alias to serve the AnGenMap group mailing.

• Transit

In late 1998 the list was transferred to a SmartList Mailing Listserv customized on a DEC Unix system, where handling of postings, subscription / unsubscription and other list maintenance functions were automated. During the years 2000-2005, web interfaces were developed for the ease of use of the list with a number of web functions (e.g. sub/ unsub /info /help for users, and sub/unsub helper tool for list managers) to have effectively helped minimizing the management workloads. A number of patches were also added to take care some of the listserv management routines and enhence the ability to fight against SPAM among other unwanted mails. Procmail based Spam filters were continuely added/tuned over time.

• Developments

In the spring of 1999, a web-based member directory was developed to couple with the listserv for handling some of the user requests and membership management tasks using web tools. In 2007 the system was given an overhaul for better security and easier management. The new utilities included a user profile manager, which allows users to list alternative emails (for posting) and change subscription options settings. A web post web interface was added in 2008 as an alternative to traditional email methods, which is effective to by-pass a number of filters for spam, format, and sender checks. In 2010 a file share platform was developed for AnGenMap members to share non-ascii or large files as oppose to email attachments which are not processed under cyber-safety considerations. As the list was turned to a moderated mode in 2012, a moderator's switchbox tool was developed for multiple moderators to review and approve posts. In 2013, a mail digest function was made available for subscribers who do not wish to receive instant email posts. The Digest service sends users weekly "recent posts" summary and relay reading of the mails to web links (as opposed to traditional Mail Diegest which piles all "recent" mails into one email body). The option to use this function is managed through the user profile settings in the member's directory. Also in 2013, all archived mails are processed into web accessible hyper mails threaded by dates, by subjects, or by authors. In the meanwhile, web posting forms are made available also on public web pages, leaving the security control layer behind the scene. In 2014, the moderator's switchbox was improved to include a function for cleaning mail text mixed with quoted-printables. In 2016, the moderator's switchbox was improved to include a tool for decoding MIME coded mail text. In 2022, the auto-response "-request" listserv function was disabled as part of our efforts to simplify the listserv operations. The listserv has been transitioned to using user profiles managed with web tools for their list subscriptions, unsubscriptions, list mail "digests", alternative email boxes, etc. The change to using more user-friendly web tools also helps to avoid vulnerabilities of old-fashioned email auto-responding processes.

As a side story, since 2010, the AnGen Dir profile management system has been used to serve as a generic user authentication management tool for controled access to services on the AnimalGenome.ORG such as several listserv moderator tools, FAANG membership managements, working group managements, VCF file repository data ownership managements, and NAGRP File sharing platform, etc.

A Frequently Asked Quetions (FAQ) list has been developed and maintained since 2008.