Evolution (Software)

Evolution is a free ( GPL - licensed ) E -mail and groupware program for Linux, Mac OS X and other Unix-like systems, as well as Microsoft Windows. It is based on the GNOME desktop environment. Evolution is also able to communicate in addition to POP3 and IMAP with Microsoft Exchange servers and Usenet news servers. SSL / TLS and PGP / GPG support are integrated.

History

Evolution was originally developed by Ximian. The first releases were made in 2000. According to the purchase of Ximian by Novell on August 4, 2003, the program was renamed in Novell Evolution and the previously paid Evolution Exchange module (for Microsoft Exchange Connection, formerly Connector Module ) licensed under the GPL. In addition, support for Novell GroupWise servers has been added. Since version 2.8 in September 2004, it is an official part of GNOME. Version 2.0.0 of Evolution appeared on 13 September 2004.

Evolution become with its plugins for opensync or Palm synchronization to a platform that makes it possible to perform a complete migration to open source, without sacrificing important functions in business everyday.

Upcoming events and tasks are integrated directly into the calendar function of the GNOME desktop.

With Ekiga another project is preparing to implement a direct VoIP integration into the evolution platform.

Connecting to MS Exchange servers

Evolution connects via the detour via the web access module OWA ( evolution-exchange ) with Exchange servers up to version 2003. Makes it possible, via https from anywhere to access the Exchange server. From version 2:26 is a newer module is available that is based on the Samba library libmapi ( evolution- mapi ) and direct support from MS Exchange Server 5.5, 2003 and 2007 provides, however, no longer the possibility of access via the web interface / https ( OWA ) offers.

Versions

Mac OS X

The latest version for MacOS was released in August 2006. You do not get along with newer MS- Exchange servers as Exchange 2003.

Microsoft Windows

In January 2005, Nat Friedman announced that Novell employee Tor Lillqvist, who has already ported the GIMP for Windows systems, was tasked to accomplish this with Evolution. The porting flowed into the regular code.

Installers of Evolution for Windows to version 2.28.2 are available on the SourceForge project " Shellter ".

A newer 2.x version can be downloaded from the current openSUSE repository for MinGW.