I’m configuring up a new(er) machine to replace the aging one that currently serves all my domains. One of the little details I’m trying to perfect is what happens if a particular address is pointed at my server, but I haven’t yet configured that address on the server. I finally got that mostly worked out, using one of the oldest and most arcane features of Apache, known as mod_rewrite. I got a good laugh out of the following quotes on that page:

“The great thing about mod_rewrite is it gives you all the configurability and flexibility of Sendmail. The downside to mod_rewrite is that it gives you all the configurability and flexibility of Sendmail.”

— Brian Behlendorf
Apache Group

“ Despite the tons of examples and docs, mod_rewrite is voodoo. Damned cool voodoo, but still voodoo. ”

— Brian Moore
bem@news.cmc.net