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- From: Jason Zions <uunet!cnd.hp.com!jason>
-
- <Regarding the possible requirement of 1003.1 in all POSIX profiles,
- the Update author predicts 1003.1 will not be required.>
-
- >[Editor: We disagree. 1003.1 is a set of applications programming
- >interfaces carefully chosen to be necessary and sufficient to make an
- >operating system UNIX-like for the C programmer. Providing standards
- >for a UNIX-like operating system should be the goal of the POSIX
- >standards, and attempts by vendors uncomfortable with UNIX to dilute
- >the effort should be cut off at the pass.]
-
- This is the basic question "Must all 1003 standards assume the
- presence of 1003.1?" This has already been answered with a resounding
- "NO"; take a look at 1003.2, which is expressly intended to work in
- environments in which 1003.1 does not exist.
-
- Other 1003 standards explicitly build upon 1003.1 (and perhaps on
- others as well); clearly, profiles including 1003.4 will have to
- include 1003.1, as the 1003.4 spec clearly states that 1003.1 is a
- prerequisite.
-
- >[Author: POSIX must evolve a set of independent standards that have
- >UNIX as their heritage. POSIX standards are all evolving as UNIX-like
- >standards. Why discourage a vendor from implementing some subset of
- >UNIX-like standards just because the vendor is not ready to provide a
- >complete 1003.1 implementation? ]
-
- Encourage those subset-producing vendors all you like; just don't let
- them call their subset "1003.1-compliant". I think we ought to adopt
- more the solution of the Ada folks; no subsets permitted under the
- POSIX banner. No one can sell an Ada subset and use the word "Ada" in
- the product name. (Oh, well - the IEEE already gave up its trademark
- on POSIX. But you see the point.)
-
- But if the purpose for which the profile is being written really
- requires the full power of 1003.1, do not hesitate to require it in
- the profile. If only a subset of 1003.1 is needed, then be sure to
- specify exactly what subset is needed. Don't be fuzzy about it.
-
- Jason Zions
-
- Volume-Number: Volume 19, Number 65
-
-