Why Aren't More Distros Becoming LSB Certified?

mydoghasworms asks: "I have done much thinking lately about Linux Standards Base. The idea makes lots of sense: Adopt a standard which will ensure that if some piece of software is compiled on one LSB-compliant system, it will run on any other LSB-compliant system. This would be great for members of the general public who are looking for an alternative to Windows, don't want to pay for Mac, but are looking for a platform where installing and running software is as easy as on the platform they are used to. Seen in that light, if LSB lives up to its promise, it could be the step in Linux's evolution that could see it adopted by the general public. That leaves the question: Why is LSB not seeing greater adoption?" "Is it because it is not marketed well enough? Is the certification process too difficult? Are there perhaps technical challenges to LSB certification not often discussed? If people agree that LSB is in fact what Linux needs right now to ensure widespread adoption, what should be done to create awareness of LSB? Should communities developing Open Source/Free Software projects be encouraged to provide LSB binaries? Your input would be most welcome here."

Comments

What role does LSB play?

[winkydink]

If I'm the producer of a linux distro and I want to make it as easy to use/run apps as Windows/Mac, why do I need LSB? I'll just do it myself.

Re:Why Standarize when you can improve

[MBGMorden]

These "only a kernel" posts are getting annoying as hell. You lost the battle give it up. It's almost exactly like the "Macs ARE PC's." argument from way back when. The wording has taken on a different meaning. Live with it. Nobody says just "Linux" when they mean the kernel because aside from a few devout hackers very few people every talking specificially about the kernel. They say Linux and mean the OS, and if they mean the kernel they'll say "the Linux kernel". GNU/Linux isn't pleasant to say.

Please just let the 10+ year RMS whine-fest go ahead and die.

Re:the LSB is RPM centric

[xtracto]

./config to run the self-customizing script

make to compile

make install to finish installation


Nice for you, fortunately I just have to tell Firefox "Open with default Win32 application" to install it.