From D.Cannon@exeter.ac.uk Thu Jul 7 23:06:07 1994 Received: from ns.dknet.dk by dkuug.dk with SMTP id AA13643 (5.65c8/IDA-1.4.4j for ); Thu, 7 Jul 1994 21:07:15 +0200 Received: from osiris.dknet.dk by ns.dknet.dk with SMTP id AA07543 (5.65c8/IDA-1.4.4j for ); Thu, 7 Jul 1994 21:07:04 +0200 X400-Received: by mta osiris.dknet.dk in /PRMD=minerva/ADMD=dk400/C=dk/; Relayed; Thu, 7 Jul 1994 21:06:46 +0200 X400-Received: by /PRMD=uk.ac/ADMD= /C=gb/; Relayed; Thu, 7 Jul 1994 21:06:35 +0200 X400-Received: by /PRMD=UK.AC/ADMD= /C=GB/; Relayed; Thu, 7 Jul 1994 21:06:12 +0200 X400-Received: by /PRMD=UK.AC/ADMD= /C=GB/; Relayed; Thu, 7 Jul 1994 21:06:07 +0200 Date: Thu, 7 Jul 1994 21:06:07 +0200 X400-Originator: D.Cannon@exeter.ac.uk X400-Recipients: sc22wg15@dkuug.dk X400-Mts-Identifier: [/PRMD=uk.ac/ADMD= /C=gb/;<20469.9407071906@cen>] X400-Content-Type: P2-1984 (2) Content-Identifier: Posix Apps co... From: D.Cannon@exeter.ac.uk Message-Id: <20469.9407071906@cen> To: " (SC22/WG15 Posix)" Subject: Posix Apps conformance Acknowledge-To: D.Cannon@Exeter.ac.uk X-Organisation: University of Exeter, Computer Unit X-Disclaimer: The following is a personal statement and does not reflect University of Exeter policy or agreement. Content-Type: text Content-Length: 5591 X-Charset: ASCII X-Char-Esc: 29 I have been actioned by the UK BSI IST/5/-/15 (POSIX) panel to forward the following paper to WG15 for its consideration. The paper expresses the concerns of a major IT user in the UK, whose expenditure on IT components per year runs to hundreds of millions of pounds. The English NHS is concerned that its investment in POSIX-conformant platforms may be undermined by a lack of compliant applications: In the UK POSIX applications testing has been available for the last two years - but the tests are not available through a NAMAS-accredited testing laboratory, and the problem here is one of insufficient demand. (Developers tend not to offer conformance to standards unless their customers have a requirement for it). The problem may be one of POSIX-user education: users should be moving towards the use of POSIX compliant applications. They should be pressuring their suppliers to show some commitment to conformance, but they need the hooks in the standards to hang their demands on, and something identifiable on the product's shrink-wrapper to tell them they're buying POSIX compliance. IST/5/-/15 is interested in debating any proposed mechanisms which might lead to the 'certification' of POSIX-worthy applications. David Cannon Convener, BSI IST/5/-/15 4-July-1994 ________________________________________________________________ The English National Health Service Requirement for Application Conformance Testing The open systems movement has been driven largely by market requirement for greater choice. However, there are a large number of political and technical problems that still need addressing. This short paper will outline some of those problems related to open applications, with particular reference to POSIX, from the English NHS point of view. When a standard is adopted it should be done primarily for sound business reasons. There needs to be a demonstrable benefit. The English NHS believes that there is a business case for adopting the POSIX standard (investment protection in hardware and operating systems, market choice, protection of staff expertise). These benefits can be realised because the majority of operating systems now conform to POSIX.1 and POSIX.2 (or will do so). The vendors of operating systems conform because they have been motivated by market pressure. First and third party testing has allowed operating system vendors to gain competitive advantage by demonstrating conformance and has given purchasers confidence to buy operating systems that conform. Unfortunately there is little evidence that application developers are writing to POSIX standards. Unless they do so the whole exercise will have been a waste of effort. Until application developers start to actively make use of POSIX standards, and tell customers about it, the primary goal in developing POSIX will no be reached. It is quite likely, if application developers do not start to use the standard and advertise that fact, that operating system vendors will cease to support it. The English NHS mandates POSIX in all relevant purchases above GBP 5000 (with appropriate derogations). This level of commitment requires support in training and guidance for purchasers, technical expert help, procurement help, and maintenance and development of POSIX standards requirements. Without applications to support POSIX there is little business reason to continue to mandate its presence, especially when the cost of mandating it is taken into consideration. Two further problems complicate the situation. (i) Potential purchasers of open applications can not be expected to have the expertise needed to accurately assess the conformance (or lack of it) in an application. (ii) As there is no application testing available, public bodies may derogate from the EC Standards Decision where applications are of concern. Application conformance testing is necessary in order to encourage purchasers to require POSIX conformant applications. Application conformance testing gives purchasers the ability to accurately assess the conformance claims of a vendor. Application testing may be necessary to persuade application developers to adopt the standard. The situation for conforming applications is the reverse of that for platforms, ie very little support for the standard. For platforms there is adequate first and third party testing available, and support for the standard is almost universal. The POSIX standard is being developed "to support application portability at the source level" (1). This support will not be achieved without application conformance testing. There is an urgent requirement to develop application test benches for POSIX before users of the standard start to seriously question the worth of continuing to use it. Robert Smith NHS Information Management Centre (1) Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX) - Part 1: System Application Program Interface (API) [C language] ISO 9945-1. -- _________________________________________________________________________ David Cannon University of Exeter, Computer Unit Laver Building, North Park Road Systems/Network Programmer Exeter, EX4 4QE, Devon, UK Phone: +44 (0)392 263998 Fax: +44 (0)392 211630 _________________________________________________________________________