% which mailx
which: no mailx in (/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/bin/X11: ...

[download]
One case: RedHat does not install mailx by default, so you'd have to be careful about how you deploy this script. As for the modules, they may be more "expensive" in terms of lines of code and overhead, but I think you get what you pay for. And don't forget, system() calls aren't exactly free either.

To some extend, I agree with your point. system() calls in command-line scripts may be acceptable, especially for quick hacks. However, if you're talking in general terms, the modules are far more adaptable, especially in something like a mod_perl environment.

If you need to send mail, you better be using SMTP. Sure, you can use 'mail', but how can you tell if the system actually checks the mail queue. Is the mail daemon even running? Can you even assume it's going to be Sendmail? If you have your own little kingdom where certain things can be taken for granted, you can code accordingly. In general terms, though, such assumptions are risky.

In reply to Re^2: Can I clean this up?? by tadman
in thread Can I clean this up?? by Anonymous Monk

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