Download the LSB specifications and tools here.
The picture below represents the key LSB deliverables for application and distribution developers (click on particular items for details):
Specification
The Linux Standard Base (LSB) specifications are made available in two parts: an architecture independent (generic) part and an architecture dependent part. The architecture independent part is comprised of five modules: Core, C++, Desktop, Languages and Printing. The architecture dependent part is comprised of three modules: Core, C++ and Desktop.
Also, there are mandatory and trial use modules in the specification. The former impose mandatory requirements on LSB compliant distributions and applications may safely rely on the functionality described in mandatory modules. Functionality in trial use modules is not required in LSB compliant distributions and applications should take this into consideration. Meanwhile, trial use modules represent candidates for inclusion in the next versions of LSB.
| HTML | One Page HTML | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandatory Modules | |||
| LSB 4.1 Generic | Core [1]
,
C++ [2]
,
Desktop [3]
,
|
Core [6]
,
C++ [7]
,
Desktop [8]
,
|
21-Feb-2011 |
| LSB 4.1 (x86) | 21-Feb-2011 | ||
| LSB 4.1 (x86-64) | 21-Feb-2011 | ||
| LSB 4.1 (PPC32) | 21-Feb-2011 | ||
| LSB 4.1 (PPC64) | 21-Feb-2011 | ||
| LSB 4.1 (IA64) | 21-Feb-2011 | ||
| LSB 4.1 (S390) | 21-Feb-2011 | ||
| LSB 4.1 (S390X) | 21-Feb-2011 | ||
| Trial Use Modules | |||
| LSB 4.1 Trial Use | None [53] |
None [54] |
21-Feb-2011 |
Older versions of the LSB are available here [55].
Another good way for browsing LSB specification and data about related Linux ecosystem is using LSB Navigator [56].
LSB Application Tools
LSB application tools help developers in creating LSB compliant applications and finally achieving LSB Certified status.
The Linux App Checker contains tools for analyzing dependencies (libraries and interfaces externally required) of application packages. In particular it helps developers in testing their applications for LSB compliance and enables easy steps for LSB certification. To install the Linux App Checker, please download the appropriate tar file, extract the tar file, and run the included install.sh script.
Linux App Checker is version independent tool, i.e. it supports all relevant LSB versions at once (LSB 3.0 or greater). Please refer to Linux App Checker Getting Started [57] for instructions on how to use the tool.
| Linux Application Checker (x86) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| Linux Application Checker (x86-64) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| Linux Application Checker (PPC32) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| Linux Application Checker (PPC64) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| Linux Application Checker (IA64) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| Linux Application Checker (S390) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| Linux Application Checker (S390X) | 01-Apr-2013 |
LSB Software Development Kit (SDK)
The LSB Software Development Kit (SDK) contains the LSB Development Environment (shared library stubs, headers, lsbcc, and lsbc++) for building LSB compliant binaries. It supports all LSB releases starting from 3.0 at once.
To install the LSB SDK, please download the appropriate tar file, extract the tar file, and run the included install.sh script.
| LSB 4.1 SDK (x86) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| LSB 4.1 SDK (x86-64) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| LSB 4.1 SDK (PPC32) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| LSB 4.1 SDK (PPC64) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| LSB 4.1 SDK (IA64) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| LSB 4.1 SDK (S390) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| LSB 4.1 SDK (S390X) | 01-Apr-2013 |
LSB Sample Implementation is not supported anymore.
LSB Eclipse Plugin is intended to facilitate development of portable C/C++ applications for the Linux platform by integrating the LSB tools into the Eclipse IDE. It enables smooth using the LSB SDK for building C/C++ applications within the Eclipse IDE along with "at hand" checking the applications with the Linux Application Checker.
To install the latest version of LSB Eclipse Plugin, please refer to LSB Eclipse Plugin Installation Instructions [72]. To learn more about the LSB Eclipse Plugin, please refer to LSB Eclipse Plugin Getting Started page [73].
LSB Distribution Tools
LSB distribution tools help distribution and upstream developers in analysing their products with regard to LSB requirements. They can be useful both as just a part of QA cycle and as a part of LSB certification process.
The LSB Distribution Testkit (DTK) contains everything developers need to test a Linux distribution for LSB compliance. The front end of the Distribution Testkit is DTK Manager that helps visually manage the testing process. DTK Manager automatically downloads necessary tests from the Linux Foundation FTP server, so please be sure you have Internet connection on the testing system the first time you want to run the tests.
To install the LSB DTK Manager, please download the appropriate tar file, extract the tar file, and run the included install.sh script.
Please refer to DTK Manager Getting Started [74] for instructions on how to use the tool.
| LSB 4.1 Distribution Testkit (x86) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| LSB 4.1 Distribution Testkit (x86-64) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| LSB 4.1 Distribution Testkit (PPC32) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| LSB 4.1 Distribution Testkit (PPC64) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| LSB 4.1 Distribution Testkit (IA64) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| LSB 4.1 Distribution Testkit (S390) | 01-Apr-2013 | |
| LSB 4.1 Distribution Testkit (S390X) | 01-Apr-2013 |
LSB DTK Manager supports automation of scheduled (e.g. nightly) runs of the LSB certification tests on multiple test systems with collection of the results on a single server. Please refer to our Distribution Autotesting [82] page and to the DTK Manager Nightly Run HOWTO [83] for details.