The LSB 5 Specification Series

The Linux Standard Base is now on LSB 5. A further evolution of the specification, with considerable internal restructuring, finally delivering on a modular LSB.

The LSB 5.0 Specification

This is the approved final version of the LSB 5.0 specification. The tables below present two popular formats, you may also go to the page with all formats.

Release notes outlining changes from the previous release of the specification can be found at http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/ReleaseNotes50

Note that the LSB 5.0 Core specification set is an evolution of the ISO/IEC International Standard 23360, which corresponded to LSB 3.1. This edition is not to be considered an ISO standard.

LSB 5.0 was released June 3, 2015.

Notes:

Note: if you are planning to certify conformance to LSB 5.0, please begin by reading the applicable Product Standard.

Green table cells indicate available specs, red unavailable.

The LSB 4 Specification Series

This is the Linux Standard Base version 4 specification series. Following on from LSB 3 and LSB 2, this version is evolutionary, rather then revolutionary.

The LSB 4.1 Specification

This is the approved final version of the LSB 4.1 specification. The tables below present two popular formats, you may also go to the page with all formats.

Release notes outlining changes from the previous release of the specification can be found in the release notes for LSB 4.1.

Note that the LSB 4.1 Core specification is an evolution of the ISO/IEC International Standard 23360, which corresponded to LSB 3.1. This edition is not to be considered an ISO standard.

LSB 4.1 was released February 16, 2011

Note: if you are planning to certify conformance to LSB 4.1, please begin by reading the applicable Product Standard.

The LSB 4.0 Specification

This is the approved final version of the LSB 4.0 specification. The tables below present two popular formats, you may also go to the page with all formats.

Release notes outlining changes from the previous release of the specification can be found in the release notes for LSB 4.0.

Note that the LSB 4.0 Core specification is an evolution of the ISO/IEC International Standard 23360, which corresponded to LSB 3.1. This edition is not to be considered an ISO standard.

LSB 4.0 was released May 1, 2009

Note: if you are planning to certify conformance to LSB 4.0, please begin by reading the applicable Product Standard.

The LSB 3 Specification Series

The LSB Specification evolution continues with the LSB 3 release. Built on the same structure as the 2.x specification, this version of the LSB is based on a new C++ ABI, and includes many improvements throughout the specification.

The LSB 3.2 Specification

This is the approved final version of the LSB 3.2 specification. The tables below present two popular formats, you may also go to the page with all formats.

With this version, two new mandatory specifications, LSB-Printing and LSB-Languages (which incorporates the Perl and Python dynamic languages), as well a Trial Use specification, are introduced. In addition, the Optional Qt4 specification is now mandatory, and is incorporated in the Desktop specification.

Release notes outlining changes from the previous release of the specification can be found in the release notes for LSB 3.2.

Note that the LSB 3.2 Core specification is an evolution of the ISO/IEC International Standard 23360, which corresponded to LSB 3.1. This edition is not to be considered an ISO standard.

LSB 3.2 was released January 25, 2008

Note: if you are planning to certify conformance to LSB 3.2, please begin by reading the applicable Product Standard.

The LSB 3.1 Specification

This is the approved final version of the LSB 3.1 specification. The tables below present two popular formats, you may also go to the page with all formats.

The Core module specification is the document submitted for publication by ISO/IEC as IS 23360:1996. Release notes outlining changes from the previous release of the Core module can be found at http://wiki.linuxfoundation.org/en/ReleaseNotesCore31

The Graphics module, which was a separate module document for 3.0, is incorporated as one of the modules in the new Desktop module set.

LSB 3.1 Core was released October 27, 2005; LSB 3.1 C++ and Desktop were released April 24, 2006.

An errata document was released March 19, 2007.

Note: if you are planning to certify conformance to LSB 3.1, please begin by reading the applicable Product Standard.

The LSB 3.0 Specification

This is the approved final version of the LSB 3.0 specification. The tables below present two popular formats, you may also go to the page with all formats.

Release notes outlining changes from the previous release can be found at http://wiki.linuxfoundation.org/en/ReleaseNotes3.

LSB 3.0 was released July 6, 2005.

Note: if you are planning to certify conformance to LSB 3.0, please begin by reading the applicable Product Standard.

The LSB 2 Specification Series

The LSB Specification documents have been restructured for the LSB 2 release. This restructuring will permit management of the documents to be decentralized, permitting area experts to take ownership of their respective portion of the specification, without the burdened of also having to be responsible for portions outside of their area of expertise.

The LSB 2.X document structure also lays the groundwork for the creation of additional specification modules which exist on top of the Core LSB specification. These new modules can permit the addition of functionallity with would otherwise be considered out of scope for the LSB, as well as allowing groups outside of the LSB to add functionallity using the framework established by the LSB.

The LSB 1.3 specifications consisted of a single monolithic document known as the Generic LSB, which is supplemented by an architecture specific document.

Note: if you are planning to certify conformance to LSB 2.0, please begin by reading the applicable Product Standard.

The table below provides a roadmap for the specification documents. Document sets available for certification are shown in the left column. Individual specification documents are shown in the columns under Architecture. A blank space indiciates a document which has not yet been created.

The LSB 2.1.0 Specification

LSB 2.1 was released March 11, 2005.

The LSB 2.0.1 Specification

LSB 2.0.1 was released October 21, 2004.

The LSB 2.0.1 ISO Specification Submission

The following documents were submitted to ISO to begin the process of becoming an international standard. Eventually, LSB 3.1.0 became ISO 23360:2006.
Explanatory Report
LSB Core Specification
LSB Core Specification for AMD64
LSB Core Specification for IA32
LSB Core Specificationfor IA64
LSB Core Specification for PPC32
LSB Core Specification for PPC64
LSB Core Specification for S390
LSB Core Specification for S390X

Differences from Release 2.0

The following (PDF) files have the differences from the corresponding version of the document at Release 2.0.

2.0 Errata

Errata for the 2.0 specifications can be found HERE.

The LSB 2.0 Specification

LSB 2.0 was released August 31, 2004. The release omitted the PPC32 and S390 architectures.

The LSB 1 Specification Series

LSB 1.3 Specification

The 1.3 release consists of the common specification, and a processor specific specification for the IA32 and PPC32 architectures, and introduces the IA64, S390 and S390X architecture specifications. These documents should be used together to obtain the complete specification.

LSB 1.3 was released December 17, 2002.

LSB 1.2 Specification

The 1.2 release consists of the common specification and a processor specific specification for the IA32 architecture, and introduces the PPC32 architecture specification. These documents should be used together to obtain the complete specification.

LSB 1.2 was released June 28, 2002.

LSB 1.1 Specification

The 1.1 release consists of the common specification and a processor specific specification for the IA32 architecture. These documents should be used together to obtain the complete specification.

LSB 1.1 was released January 22, 2002.

LSB 1.0 Specification

LSB 1.0 was released June 29, 2001.