1.21. How do I use Mailman with Mac OS X?
Note that this FAQ entry discusses the use of the Mailman-standard version of the software, as available for download via the resources listed at < http://www.list.org/download.html>, whether on Mac OS X (client) or Mac OS X Server. For questions regarding the use of the Apple-provided version of Mailman that comes with Mac OS X Server, please see FAQ 1.29 at How do I use the Apple-provided version of Mailman under Mac OS X Server?.
Mailman used to include a file named README.MACOSX in the source code "tarball" which you can download. This file is superceded by information in this FAQ.
Quick Links
Larry Stone has made a variety of excellent points on this subject. Here are quick links to his posts for several recent versions of Mac OS X:
10.6 (Snow Leopard) http://www.mail-archive.com/mailman-users@python.org/msg56963.html
10.5 (Leopard) http://www.mail-archive.com/mailman-users@python.org/msg46492.html
10.4 (Tiger) http://mail.python.org/pipermail/mailman-users/2005-July/045697.html
Allan Herman has installed on 10.8 server (Mountain Lion) and has posted updates to Larry's 10.6 procedure at http://mail.python.org/pipermail/mailman-users/2013-March/074888.html.
More Details
In short, this file referenced the message at http://mail.python.org/pipermail/mailman-users/2002-October/022948.html, which includes a lot of links at the bottom to various other articles and messages which may be relevant.
However, note that this work was done under Mac OS X 10.2 "Jaguar", with Mailman 2.0.x and does not appear to be applicable to Mac OS X 10.3 "Panther", or Mailman 2.1.x or later. In particular, Apple changed the MTA they use between 10.2 and 10.3 (they switched from using sendmail to using postfix), and they also changed the Python version that they ship.
Dan Phillips notes that there are newer articles on the afp548 site which have been updated for use with Mailman 2.1.x. See http://www.afp548.com/Articles/Jaguar/mailman21-new.html and http://www.afp548.com/Articles/Jaguar/mailman21-upgrade.html. They still reference OS X 10.2, but are not MTA specific, and AFAICT those, along with Mailman's README.POSTFIX should be adequate to get it up and running on 10.3 client.
Unofficially, Larry Stone has posted his excellent description of how he installed Mailman 2.1.4 on his Mac OS X 10.3 (client, not Server) installation at http://mail.python.org/pipermail/mailman-users/2004-September/039604.html. They should be applicable for version 2.1.5 as well.
Also now available from Larry are updated instructions on installing Mailman 2.1.6 on Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) at http://mail.python.org/pipermail/mailman-users/2005-July/045697.html. Some notes on the process of upgrading to Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) can be found at http://www.mail-archive.com/mailman-users@python.org/msg46492.html.
Larry has instructions at http://www.mail-archive.com/mailman-users@python.org/msg56923.html for 10.6 (Snow Leopard).
For questions regarding the Apple-provided version of Mailman under Mac OS X Server, please see FAQ 1.29 at How do I use the Apple-provided version of Mailman under Mac OS X Server?.
This is one of many Frequently Asked Questions.