Free Standards Group Releases Linux Development Platform Specification

ATLANTA LINUX SHOWCASE, Georgia--October 11, 2000--The Free Standards Group today announced the release of the first version of the Linux Development Platform Specification, LDPS.

The LDPS allows portability in application development to all generally available Linux distributions. By using the LDPS, developers will be able to create and distribute software more quickly across the spectrum of Linux distributions, including Caldera OpenLinux 2.4, Conectiva Linux 5.1, Corel Linux OS Second Edition, Debian GNU/Linux 2.2, Linux-Mandrake 7.0, Red Hat Linux 6.2, SuSE Linux 6.4, and TurboLinux 6.0.

"Standards allowing interoperability and portability are of crucial importance for Linux," said Dan Kusnetzky, vice president of system software research for IDC. "Survey after survey indicate that IT management will feel comfortable adopting Linux only when they feel confident that applications based upon one distribution of Linux will be easily transportable to other Linux platforms."

"The LDPS is but the first of many planned specifications that are aimed to help both Open Source developers and companies to port applications to Linux," said Dan Quinlan, president of the Free Standards Group. "Having a single development reference to work from will greatly simplify the process of building Linux based applications."

"I'm increasingly worried about fragmentation in the Linux market and the growing incompatibilities between distributions," said Gerald Pfeifer, GCC steering committee member. "The LDPS is a welcome initiative to create a common platform for distributors, application vendors, and users."

Members of the Free Standards Group's list of supporters include:

• Atipa Linux Solutions
• Caldera Systems
• Corel Corporation
• The Debian Project
• Delix Computer
• Enhanced Software Technologies, Inc.
• IBM
• Linuxcare
• Linux for Power PC
• LinuxMall.com
• Linux Professional Institute
• MandrakeSoft
• Metro Link
• The Open Group
• Red Hat, Inc.
• SAP AG
• SCO
• SGI
• Software in the Public Interest, Inc.
• Sun Microsystems
• SuSE Linux AG
• TurboLinux
• VA Linux Systems

About the Free Standards Group
The Free Standards Group a non-profit corporation organized to accelerate the use and acceptance of Open Source technologies through the application, development and promotion of standards. Free Standards group projects include the LSB - Linux Standards Base, http://www.linuxbase.org/, Li18nux - Linux Internationalization Initiative, http://www.li18nux.net/, , and LDPS - Linux Development Platform Specification, http://www.freestandards.org/ldps. For more information on the Free Standards Group, visit http://www.freestandards.org/.

Note: Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.