DRAFT (9/6/00)
Free Standards Group
LI18NUX Project
LI18NUX 2000
Globalization Specification

Certification


LI18NUX SPEC 2000 Certification

1. Overview

 The Free Standards Group LI18NUX Project (Linux Internationalization Initiative) released the LI18NUX 2000 Globalization Specification on August 15, 2000. We now grant LI18NUX SPEC 2000 Certification to various Linux distributions that conform to the specification, in order to promote a common internationalized computing environment on Linux. This document shows what the LI18NUX 2000 SPEC Certification is, why we provide the certification and how distributors can obtain the certification. The specification can be found at the LI18NUX Project website:
http://www.li18nux.org/.

2. What is the certification?

 The LI18NUX SPEC 2000 Certification is proof of conformance to the LI18NUX 2000 Globalization Specification. This means that any distributions that have the certification must have common internationalized computing environments as specified in the LI18NUX 2000 Globalization Specification. A distribution can obtain certification with conformance to level 1 or level 2 as specified in the specifications depending on each distribution's achievement level for the conformance. The LI18NUX SPEC 2000 Certification Center (LCC) provides the LI18NUX SPEC 2000 Certification Kit for distributions to obtain the certification.The kit consists of some conponents: The certification is based on the LI18NUX 2000 Globalization Specification (version 1.0) released on August 15th, 2000.

3. Why do we provide the certification?

 The LI18NUX 2000 Globalization Specification was developed in order to standardize a common internationalized computing environment so that each distributor can refer to the specification for their development. However, there is no way to prove that a distribution has conformed to the specification without a certification process. The specification alone is hardly enough to ensure that distributors develop their distributions to conform to the standards, so we provide the certification in the hope that it will promote the conformance of each distribution to the specification. By granting certification to distributors, they can use the certification logo on their product packages and end users can pick up better internationalized computing environments.

4. How do we grant the certification?

 Any distributor who has registered a distribution with the LI18NUX Certification Center (LCC) can request the LI18NUX SPEC 2000 Certification. Every distributor should first register. Distributors may register on the official LI18NUX LCC website at: http://www.li18nux.org/certification/. The LCC checks its validity and sends the distributor the LI18NUX SPEC 2000 Certification Kit if it is valid. Distributors may also download the kit from the LCC website. The second step requires distributors to inspect and test their distributions to verify conformance to the specification. The inspection and testing should be done based on the inspection and testing conformance procedures provided by LCC. Distributors then send the results to LCC or enter their inspection/testing results on the LCC website. During the third step the LCC inspects and tests the actual distribution based on the reports submitted by distributors. After the inspection and testing, LCC decides if the distribution is in conformance, and then sends the results with inspection data to the LI18NUX Steering Committee. The committee gives LCC approval if they can confirm the validity of the results from LCC. The final step is for the LCC to grant distributions certification. Distributors may put the certification logo on its distribution package.

Update: Oct.9th,2000
Li18nux SPEC 2000 Certification Center
Li18nux Certificatin Subgroup
Copyright 2000 by Li18nux / Free Standards Group