About the Linux Standard Base (LSB)
The Linux Standard Base delivers interoperability between applications and the Linux operating system. Currently all major distributions comply with the LSB and many major application vendors, like MySQL, RealNetworks and SAP, are certifying. The LSB offers a cost-effective way for application vendors to target multiple Linux distributions while building only one software package. For end-users, the LSB and its mark of interoperability preserves choice by allowing them to select the applications and distributions they want while avoiding vendor lock-in. LSB certification of distributions results in more applications being ported to Linux and ensures that distribution vendors are compatible with those applications. In short, the LSB ensures Linux does not fragment.(quote from Linux Foundation).
http://www.linux-foundation.org/en/LSB - Linux Standard Base Specifications.
LSB 3.1 Specifications overview
We merely reproduce the titles of specifications here :
LSB core specifications
- Executable And Linking Format (ELF)
- Base Libraries
- Utility Libraries
- Commands and Utilities (grep, sed, awk, tar, useradd, patch, etc.)
- Execution Environment
File System Hierarchy (FHS)
- System Initialization (cron, init scripts, etc.)
Users & Groups (names, id's, etc)
- Package Format and Installation
LSB C++ specifications
- Low Level System Information
- Base Libraries
LSB desktop specifications
- Graphic Libraries (libX11, libSM, libICE, libXt, libXext, libXi)
- OpenGL Libraries
- picture libraries (jpeg, png)
- Fontconfig library
- GTK+ Stack Libraries
- Qt3 Library
- XML2 libraries
- Package Information
LSB support in Debian
LSB support in Debian is provided through meta-packages : lsb, lsb-core, etc.
http://lists.debian.org/debian-lsb/ Debian LSB mailing list.
DebianLsb - LSB support in Debian wiki page.
How compatible is Debian with other distributions of Linux ?
http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ch-compat.html - The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ