[Orgmode] Re: contact management in org-mode?

[Matt Lundin]

Ben Finney <address@hidden> writes:

> Russell Adams <address@hidden> writes:
>
>> Given the discussion about a "simple" database [for storing contacts],
>> it struck me that I might just use properties and column mode. Dynamic
>> fields and views, hotlinks, VC, text file...
>
> Thank you, Russell, for the BBDB rant (which I quite agree with) and for
> giving your current solution based on Org items with properties.
>
> I'm dipping my toes into Org and, for contact data, BBDB seemed the
> natural way to go; I'm glad I looked around to find alternatives before
> dumping too much data into BBDB. Everyone's responses in this thread
> have saved me a *lot* of time and effort.

I'd agree with Russell's conclusion that if one does not use an emacs
mail client, then there is not much point to using BBDB.

But if one uses Gnus or the like, the integration BBDB offers (e.g.,
automated addition of new addresses, auto-notes, TAB completion for
addresses, etc.) is still difficult to surpass. Until someone codes some
nice integration between an org-mode address database and emacs mail
clients, switching to an org database would require one to forgo all the
nice automation that BBDB offers. (Do you really want to enter all new
email addresses manually in an org file?)

I've found BBDB to be incredibly convenient. But I use Gnus for email.
If I were using Gmail or Thunderbird or Mutt, I wouldn't use BBDB at
all.

Just a few thoughts...

- Matt