ITinfo: Common Standards For Linux Released

Linux Standards Published

Software developers now have a common base

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Common Standards For Linux Released

by Dave Murphy
ISSN 1535-3613

The Linux Standard Base (LSB) v1.1 has been published by the Free Standards Group as the first version of the Linux Internationalization Initiative. The LSB sets common practices that will make it easier for software application vendors to develop products for the Linux operating system.

Currently, owing to the variations in installation routines, some applications that work on one distribution of Linux may not work on another distribution. Red Hat Linux will comply with LSB this year, and most application developers design their programs to work with the market-leading Red Hat Linux distribution. However, even Red Hat may have it's work cut out for itself as it's upcoming release of Advance Server may not meet the LSB standards, thereby making it a thorn in the side of application coders.

Operating system standards enable application designers to code for an expected installation base; they know what their customer's servers and workstations will be able to properly run the application so long as both meet the LSB.

Much like Windows applications are written for one or more version of Microsoft's operating system, such as Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, or XP, Linux software developers will now be able to write applications for specific LSB standards, regardless of the brand of operating system installed on the client's system.

Dave's Opinion

I support Linux standards as it's a necessary step in encouraging application developers to create end-user programs for the Linux platform. Not having a broad range of well-established commercial applications is the major hurdle to wider implementation of Linux workstations as an alternative to Windows workstations. Already Linux-based Web and network server applications are available and well known, making Linux a viable alternative to Windows NT/2000/XP servers; it's the lack of well-known and commercially marketed desktop applications that is the most significant hindrance to using Linux on the office desktop.

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References

Free Standards Group
Red Hat
Microsoft
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updated February 1, 2002
http://dgl.com/itinfo/2002/it020201.html