ISO/IEC 23360-1-5:2021

Overview

ISO/IEC 23360-1-5:2021 - Linux Standard Base (LSB) Part 1-5: Imaging specification defines the runtime environment, libraries and system interfaces required for imaging applications on LSB-conforming Linux systems. Common and architecture-specific parts together form the complete interface specification. The Imaging module supplements the LSB Core module and focuses on binary compatibility (ABI) for printing and scanning components rather than being a full source-level API specification.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and intent
  • Enables a uniform industry standard environment for high-volume imaging applications and installers.
  • Emphasizes ABI consistency across implementations; supports APIs where applicable.
• Libraries required
  • Mandatory runtime libraries listed include:
    • libcups (libcups.so.2)
    • libcupsimage (libcupsimage.so.2)
    • libsane (libsane.so.1)
  • These libraries must be available in a directory searched by the dynamic linker by default.
• Modules and contents
  • PPD (PostScript Printer Description) format extensions and updates.
  • Printing libraries and interfaces (libcups, libcupsimage): data and interface definitions.
  • Printing commands and command behavior (utilities and installers).
  • Execution environment requirements including filesystem hierarchy considerations.
  • Scanning libraries and interfaces (libsane).
  • Package format and installation guidance, including package dependencies and minimal installation script environment.
• Design principles
  • Separation of common (architecture-neutral) and archLSB parts (architecture-specific).
  • Interfaces described are mandatory except where explicitly stated.
  • The specification references normative documents (CUPS API, FHS, ISO C, PPD specs, SANE) for detailed semantics.
  • Encourages use of symbol versioning to support multiple ABI versions.

Practical applications and users

• Linux distribution vendors and OS integrators - implementers use this standard to ensure their distributions provide the required imaging ABIs for third‑party applications.
• Application developers and ISVs - produce binary packages that run on multiple LSB-conforming systems without per-distribution rebuilds.
• Printer and scanner driver developers - target libcups, libcupsimage and libsane ABIs to ensure driver compatibility.
• Packagers and DevOps - follow package installation and dependency rules to create portable imaging packages and installers.

Benefits include predictable binary compatibility, reduced fragmentation for imaging software, and a clearer contract between imaging applications and Linux implementations.

Related standards (selected)

• CUPS API Reference (CUPS 1.2)
• Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS 3.0)
• ISO/IEC 9899:1999 (C language)
• PPD Specification versions and updates
• SANE Standard v1.04

Keywords: ISO/IEC 23360-1-5:2021, Linux Standard Base, LSB Imaging, ABI, libcups, libcupsimage, libsane, PPD, CUPS, SANE, filesystem hierarchy, binary compatibility.