LSB Navigator

LSB Navigator provides a web interface for the LSB Database browsing and administrating. Online version of the Navigator driven by the official instance of the LSB DB is a part of the Linux Development Network. LSB Navigator can be set up locally, along with the LSB DB instance. Details about LSB Navigator and LSB Database with setup instructions are available at the LSB Infrastructure site. 

All information and services provided by the LSB Navigator are divided into three main sections:

LSB Elements 

This section provides information about the items described in the LSB Specification. The main items are:

  • libraries;
  • C++ classes;
  • binary symbols (corresponding to functions and global variables);
  • commands and shell utilities;
  • interpreted language modules.

Every LSB element has a home page with detailed information about it.

For binary symbols, commands and language modules included in the LSB Specification, a link to the documentation is provided. For every item ever included in LSB, history of its appearance in LSB is displayed, along with data about its presence in different Linux distributions. For all items except commands data about usage in applications is available as well.

For binary symbols and commands included in LSB, information is provided about certification tests aimed to verify their behavior in particular distributions.

For functions ever considered as LSB candidates but rejected by the standardization committee, as well as for interfaces declared to be obsolete, appropriate explanations are provided and possible alternatives/replacements are suggested.

Besides standardized elements, the LSB Elements section contains information about closely associated API items: 

  • types required for proper usage of the standardized functions;
  • constants and macros that can be useful when developing LSB-compliant applications;
  • names of header files that should be included in order to use particular functions, types or constants.

Distributions and Applications 

This section contains information about libraries, C++ classes, commands and binary symbols provided by distributions and used by applications. Every item has a home page with data about item presence in distributions and usage in applications. 

Distributions and applications also have home pages that display information about all versions of particular distribution or application stored in the LSB DB. For distributions, detailed lists of provided items are available, while for applications lists of required interfaces of different kinds can be observed. In addition, for every application lists of required non-LSB libraries, binary symbols and language modules are constructed. 
 

Workgroup Services 

This section is primarily aimed to be used by LSB Workgroup members, though information represented by it can be also useful for all people interested in LSB development and evolution.

Particularly, Statistics subsection provides statistical data about standard evolution (number of elements added/excluded in every version). In the Standards subsection, one can find a list of external specifications referenced by LSB, and in the Tests and Coverage subsection - data about interface coverage provided by the certification tests.

The Applications Statistics subsection displays usage of libraries and function in Linux applications; reports for both LSB and non-LSB libraries are available. The LSB Rating of Applications page of this subsection displays summary on LSB compliance of applications known to the LSB DB.

The Futures Tracker subsection represents possible future directions of the LSB development.

Finally, this section provides several tools for complicated analysis of the Linux ecosystem aimed to simplify decision making process during the LSB development; some examples of their usage can be found here.

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