# xlbiff

> mail notification pop-up with configurable message scans

**Wikidata**: [Q116551459](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116551459)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/xlbiff

## Summary
xlbiff (X Literate Biff) is a free software mail notification program that displays a pop-up alert for new messages. Unlike standard notification tools, it features configurable message scans to filter or display email content. It runs on Unix-like operating systems, specifically BSD, and is distinct from the similar utility xbiff.

## Key Facts
- **Aliases:** X Literate Biff
- **Primary Function:** Mail notification pop-up with configurable message scans.
- **License:** Expat license (Free software).
- **Operating System:** BSD (Unix-like).
- **Named After:** The traditional Unix mail notification tool `biff`.
- **Distinction:** Explicitly different from `xbiff`.
- **Source Repository:** Hosted on GitHub at `https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff`.
- **Website:** `https://www.edsaja.com/xlbiff/`
- **Package Availability:** Available as a Debian source package (since 2001) and Ubuntu package; previously available as a FreeBSD port (`mail/xlbiff`).
- **Latest Major Version:** 4.6 (released January 2, 2022).

## FAQs
### Q: What makes xlbiff different from standard biff or xbiff?
A: While standard tools typically indicate the arrival of new mail, xlbiff is distinguished by its "configurable message scans," allowing users to customize how messages are checked and displayed in a pop-up window.

### Q: Is xlbiff free to use?
A: Yes, xlbiff is classified as free software released under the Expat license, allowing users to freely run, study, and modify the program.

### Q: Where can the source code for xlbiff be found?
A: The source code is maintained in a repository on GitHub, managed by the user `edsantiago`.

### Q: What is the most recent version of xlbiff?
A: As of the latest provided data, the most recent release is version 4.6, published on January 2, 2022.

## Why It Matters
xlbiff serves a specific niche for users on Unix-like systems who require immediate, on-screen notification of new email without needing to constantly check their inbox. Its significance lies in its customization capabilities; by supporting configurable message scans, it moves beyond simple binary notification (mail/no mail) to provide users with a preview or specific filter of incoming messages.

The tool is a modern iteration of the classic "biff" utility—referenced in its name "X Literate Biff"—adapted for the X Window System. Its inclusion in major software repositories like Debian (since 2001) and Ubuntu highlights its enduring utility and stability within the open-source ecosystem. The active release cycle observed between 2020 and 2022 further demonstrates ongoing maintenance and compatibility with modern systems, ensuring it remains a viable tool for power users and system administrators on BSD and Linux environments.

## Notable For
- **Configurable Scans:** Offers advanced control over how incoming mail is scanned and presented, unlike simpler notification tools.
- **Active Maintenance:** Experienced a rapid series of updates in late 2021 and early 2022, moving from version 4.5 to 4.6.
- **Long-term Availability:** Has been maintained in Debian source packages since 2001.
- **Niche Utility:** Specifically designed for the X Window System on Unix-like/BSD architectures.

## Body

### Functionality and Design
xlbiff is a computer program designed for mail notification. It operates as a pop-up utility that alerts users to new email. Its core technical differentiator is the ability to perform "configurable message scans," suggesting it parses the mail headers or body according to user rules before displaying the notification. It is categorized as free software and is distinct from the standard X utility `xbiff`.

### Version History and Development
Development of xlbiff has seen continued activity in recent years, with versions 4.3 through 4.6 released between September 2020 and January 2022. The development trajectory shows a concentration of updates in late 2021:
- **Version 4.3:** Released September 21, 2020.
- **Version 4.5:** Released December 9, 2020.
- **Version 4.5.1:** Released February 2, 2021.
- **Rapid Updates (Nov 2021):** Versions 4.5.3, 4.5.4, 4.5.5, and 4.5.6 were all released within a three-week span in November 2021.
- **Version 4.6:** Released January 2, 2022.

### Distribution and Platform
xlbiff is primarily targeted at the BSD operating system environment and other Unix-like systems.
- **Repositories:** The source code is officially available on GitHub.
- **Packages:** It is available directly to users via Debian (stable and source packages) and Ubuntu. A FreeBSD port (`mail/xlbiff`) was also noted, with an end time recorded in October 2019.
- **Licensing:** The software is distributed under the Expat license (also known as the MIT license), ensuring it remains open and modifiable.

## References

1. [Release 4.3. 2020](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.3)
2. [Release 4.4. 2020](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.4)
3. [Release 4.5. 2020](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.5)
4. [Release 4.5.1. 2021](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.5.1)
5. [Release 4.5.2. 2021](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.5.2)
6. [Release 4.5.3. 2021](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.5.3)
7. [Release 4.5.4. 2021](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.5.4)
8. [Release 4.5.5. 2021](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.5.5)
9. [Release 4.5.6. 2021](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.5.6)
10. [Release 4.6. 2022](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.6)
11. [Release 4.6.1. 2022](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.6.1)
12. [Release 4.6.2. 2022](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.6.2)
13. [Release 4.6.3. 2022](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.6.3)
14. [Release 4.6.4. 2023](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.6.4)
15. [Release 4.6.6. 2025](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.6.6)
16. [Release 4.6.8. 2026](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.6.8)
17. [Release 4.6.9. 2026](https://github.com/edsantiago/xlbiff/releases/tag/4.6.9)