Linux Standard Base

From ArticleWorld

The Linux Standard Base (LSB) is a joint project that aims to provide a full standard for Linux-based distributions. It is directed by the Free Standards Group and developed by several major companies that provide Linux distributions.

Goal

The Linux Standard Base aims to develop and promote a set of standards that will increase compatibility among Linux distributions and enable software applications to run on any compliant system. In addition, the LSB will help coordinate efforts to recruit software vendors to port and write products for Linux. It is to be noted that the Linux Standard Base is based on several other standards. Its main base is the POSIX set of specifications, along with the Single Unix Specifications and several other open standards. However, it does not just restate them, but also extends them in several ways.

Versions

The initial release was the base of what is today the LSB standard. Subsequent versions added hardware-specific notes. Version 2.0 was a keypoint in the development of the LSB. LSB was split into several parts, including LSB-Core, LSB-CSS, LSB-Graphics. Version 2.0.1 was the ISO version of the LSB, which included the definitive specifications for hardware architectures. Version 3.0 included several changes among the libraries and changed to C++ ABI to the one which is used by GCC 3.4. Version 3.1 was submitted in October 2005.

Impact

The Linux Standard Based has had a warm welcome in general. It addressed many issues that made it difficult for system administrators to maintain networks with several distributions installed. However, it was also subject to much criticism.

The essential part of the criticism was brought to the way the LSB was developed. The LSB developers decided to ignore most of the suggestions expressed publicly by the other important, but non-participating projects. Some of the standards have also been the target of criticism for being poorly chosen, like the RPM package manager which was chosen as the standard package to be used by third party developers.

However, the unificatory impact of the LSB is not to be denied, and most Linux developers agree that, despite not being perfect, it is a significant step forward.