How can I add email capability from my program

[bdenson]

I would like to write a bit of code to send emails from my program (written in a proprietry language to drive high speed laser printers) so that performance stats can be monitored.

I need to know how emails are formatted. Can I just create a text file like SMTP

HELO
MAIL FROM: test@2020dml.com
RCPT TO: barry@2020dml.com
DATA
this is a test
.
QUIT

or is SMTP a two way thing?

How do I deal with attachments, CC's, BCC's etc?

Is there any packages around which can pick up messages from a watched directory and pass them to the SMTP server?

Any help much appreciated.

Barry