Enter the Linux Standards Base

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It's probably becoming clear at this point that there are a lot of variables in creating a Linux distribution. Each distribution is independent, and the fact that two different distributions are based on the same Linux kernel does not by any means imply that they are compatible with one another. In fact, they frequently are not. Software compiled for one distribution may not run on another, and this increases the burden for software developers, who may end up having to support their software on multiple distributions.

To address this fact, the Linux Standards Base (LSB) project was created. This project is a collaboration between individuals and companies involved in Linux systems and other open-source or free software activities. The goal of the organization is to establish a basic set of core software that distribution vendors can include in their products-in essence, a sort of "mini-distribution" that vendors can use as the core of their own systems. By standardizing on the LSB, the various distributions can improve interoperability and compatibility between systems. At the time of this writing, the LSB had only recently released a formal 1.0.0 specification, and so no major distribution vendors support it yet. However, the LSB (and its sponsoring organization, the Free Standards Group) may become a major influence on Linux systems in the future. The LSB can be found at http://www.linuxbase.org.

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