Free Standards Group

LI18NUX Project

LI18NUX 2000
Globalization Specification

 

LI18NUX

Conformance Pilot Program

Announcement (October 21, 2001)

 

 

 

1. Overview

The Free Standards Group’s LI18NUX Project (Linux Internationalization Initiative) released the LI18NUX 2000 Globalization Specification on August 15, 2000. The LI18NUX Project is now granting the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program License to Linux distributions that conform to the specification and pass the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program. This is being done in order to promote a common internationalized computing environment on Linux. This document shows what the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program is, why we provide the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program License and how Linux distributions can obtain it.  The LI18NUX 2000 Globalization Specification that is the basis for the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program can be found at http://www.li18nux.org/.

2. What is the LI18NUX Conformance?

The LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program is proof of conformance to the LI18NUX 2000 Globalization Specification. This means that any Linux distribution that has passed the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program will have common internationalized computing environments as specified in the LI18NUX 2000 Globalization Specification. The license is based on the LI18NUX 2000 Globalization Specification (version 1.0 with amendment 2) originally released on August 15th, 2000.

3. Why do we provide the LI18NUX Conformance License?

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

4. What is the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program, why do we provide it?

The LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program is a trial version of a future planned certification program. The purpose of the program is to establish a better conformance procedure by gathering feedback from Linux distributors who apply to the program. Linux distributors can obtain the actual LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program License and Logo at no fee. Linux distributors can register their Linux distributions to the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program even if it is a beta version. It is intended that we will gather much feedback from each Linux distributor through the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program. Linux distributors will be able to find what parts of their Linux distributions do not conform to the specification and fix them during the process. Thus, they can release their products with the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program Logo. Linux distributors who register are required to engage in ongoing communication with the LI18NUX Work Group to facilitate the exchange or information. Linux distributors are also required to attend LI18NUX face-to-face meetings to discuss the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program process. We plan to provide the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program only once. It is intended that after procedures are established that they will continue unchanged during the planned upcoming certification program. This LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program is a manual test suite with a checklist-based process. However, it is planned that when the Li18nux Conformance Pilot Program expires the testing process will be expanded.

5. How do we grant the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program License?

We will try to follow the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program outlined below, but we may change the procedure at any time in the process depending on feedback we receive from the Linux distributors that apply to the program and for other reasons. Any Linux distributor may apply to the program, but we hold the right to determine the fitness of each Linux distribution. Currently we don't have strict criteria for that verification process, but we should have better criteria through the pilot program. Below is the outline of the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program procedure:
 

* LCC is an abbreviation of the LI18NUX Conformance Center.

The first step is registration by Linux distributors. We provide the registration form. The second step is verification of the registration. This will be done by the LCC (LI18NUX Conformance Center). The LCC will check the validity of the registration. During the third step, the LCC will provide the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program questionnaire to Linux distributors. They have to inspect their Linux distributions, which are to be submitted to the program during the fourth step. When they have completed inspection, they can request a review with their inspection result to the LCC during the fifth step. The LCC will then review and evaluate actual Linux distribution during the sixth step. When the LCC completes its evaluation, the LCC will request approval of the evaluation from the LI18NUX Steering Committee during the seventh step. The committee will send the results to the Free Standards Group to confirm the validity of the results from the LCC during the eighth step. During the ninth step, the Free Standards Group will review the results. After that, if everything is fine, the LI18NUX Steering committee and the Free Standards Group will then give the LCC approval. The final step is for the LCC to release to the Linux distribution company the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program License. Linux distributors can then put the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program Logo on their Linux distribution packages.
This is the outline. The LCC will make details and may change even the outline of the procedure through out the duration of the LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program.
* The draft LI18NUX Conformance Pilot Program procedure can be found at: http://www.li18nux.org/.