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Box 1331 Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331, USA +1 (908) 562-3800 +1 (908) 562-1571 [FAX] P1003.0/D13 GUIDE TO THE POSIX OPEN SYSTEMS - _C_l_a_r_i_f_i_c_a_t_i_o_n _o_f _b_a_s_e _s_t_a_n_d_a_r_d_s _r_e_f_e_r_e_n_c_i_n_g _i_s_s_u_e_s _s_u_c_h _a_s _s_u_b_s_e_t_t_i_n_g _a_n_d _t_h_e _h_a_n_d_l_i_n_g _o_f _o_p_t_i_o_n_s - _E_d_i_t_o_r_i_a_l _i_s_s_u_e_s _s_u_c_h _a_s _g_u_i_d_a_n_c_e _o_n _t_h_e _c_o_r_r_e_c_t _l_e_v_e_l _o_f _d_e_t_a_i_l - _A_d_d_i_t_i_o_n_a_l _g_u_i_d_a_n_c_e _o_n _r_e_f_e_r_e_n_c_i_n_g _b_a_s_e _s_t_a_n_d_a_r_d_s _a_n_d ``_s_t_a_n_d_a_r_d_s _i_n _p_r_o_g_r_e_s_s'' A.3 The Role of POSIX SPs In 6.3.3.5, a classification scheme was given for profiles in which 3 different ``types'' were identified. That scheme is based, essentially, on the scope covered by the profile. Another useful classification scheme, based on scope and on who develops the profiles, is presented in this annex. Figure A-1 shows these classes of profiles and the relationships between them and base standards. _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Figure A-1 - Universe of Profiles and Standards Base standards cover a universe of diverse needs. POSIX base standards (e.g., POSIX.1 {2}, P1003.4, ...) cover a narrower set of needs related to ``POSIX.'' In the figure, the POSIX base standards are shown as a Copyright c 1991 IEEE. All rights reserved. This is an unapproved IEEE Standards Draft, subject to change. 274 A Considerations for Developers of POSIX SPs ENVIRONMENT INTERIM DOCUMENT P1003.0/D13 small subset of the larger world of base standards. At the other end of the spectrum, organization-specific (e.g., company- specific) profiles are large in number and range even more widely in their coverage. (There are many more organizations procuring systems, and effectively writing profiles, than there are committees writing standards.) Industry-specific profiles are based on specific industry needs. From the point of view of the organization-specific profile writer, industry specific profiles are applicable to many organizations (in the same industry), and hence are possibly not precisely what any specific individual organization needs. They address the broad consensus of the industry, from which there is usually deviation when you look at individual organizations whose needs range further. Standardized Profiles are formal balloted documents. POSIX SPs are the subset of standardized profiles that pertain to the POSIX base standards. While not limited to just POSIX base standards, POSIX SPs nonetheless provide a distinctly POSIX-oriented view of the base standards. An organization wishing to procure a ``POSIX'' based system, then, could first develop its own organization-specific profile, which it could base on POSIX-oriented industry-specific profiles (if available), which in turn could be based on POSIX SPs, which of course are based on the various POSIX base standards. POSIX SPs provide an industry-neutral building block for creating industry specific profiles. The developers of POSIX SPs do not have to have knowledge of any particular industry. They furthermore help ensure coherence among the many base standards referenced, particularly among the various POSIX base standards. As such, probably, most POSIX SPs will be created by the IEEE POSIX working groups meeting concurrently with IEEE POSIX base standards working groups. Meeting concurrently at the same place helps ensure the coherence of the base standards and the harmony among the POSIX SPs. A.4 Special Rules for POSIX SPs While no rules have yet been developed by IEEE for POSIX SPs, the remainder of this annex gives examples of what such rules might say and identifies some issues for which rules might be drafted. The following criteria for calling a profile a POSIX SP were developed according to some general principles that have the aim of giving definite value to the word ``POSIX'' when used with regards to profiles. The general principles are: Copyright c 1991 IEEE. All rights reserved. This is an unapproved IEEE Standards Draft, subject to change. A.4 Special Rules for POSIX SPs 275