ISO/IEC 23360-7-3:2021

Overview

ISO/IEC 23360-7-3:2021 - Linux Standard Base (LSB) Desktop specification for S390 architecture defines the system interfaces and minimal runtime environment required for compiled desktop applications and installation scripts on the IBM S390 (s390x) hardware architecture. Published by ISO/IEC and prepared by the Linux Foundation, this architecture-specific part supplements the LSB Desktop common part to provide a complete ABI/API specification for binary compatibility on S390 systems. The document is primarily a binary interface (ABI) definition and is intended to enable a uniform industry standard environment for high-volume desktop applications.

Key technical topics and requirements

• ABI and API scope: Specifies the Application Binary Interfaces required for conforming implementations and describes which source-level APIs are included or may be replaced by ABI-level calls.
• Architecture-specific supplements: Adds S390-specific details to the LSB Desktop common part wherever interfaces differ between architectures. Use this part together with the common Desktop module.
• Mandatory interfaces: Interfaces in this part are mandatory except where explicitly noted otherwise, ensuring predictable behavior for compiled binaries on S390 systems.
• GTK+ and Qt stacks: The content enumerates desktop libraries and interfaces (for example, glib, GTK+, QtCore, QtGui and related libraries), including data and interface definitions for GUI stacks commonly used on Linux desktops.
• Package and installation guidance: Includes rules on software installation and package dependencies to support consistent deployment of desktop applications and installation scripts.
• Modularity: Desktop module interfaces supplement the LSB Core module but do not depend on other LSB modules.

Practical applications and who uses it

• Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) packaging desktop binaries for S390 to ensure runtime compatibility across distributions.
• Linux distribution maintainers and OS vendors who need to verify or implement LSB-conforming S390 environments.
• Application developers and porting engineers targeting s390 systems to reduce conditional code and binary incompatibilities.
• QA, CI/CD and build systems that automate binary packaging and need a stable ABI contract.
• Enterprise and data-center operators running Linux on IBM Z / s390 hardware who rely on predictable desktop application behavior.

Related standards and references

• Use in conjunction with the LSB Desktop common part and the LSB Core module.
• This edition (2021) replaces ISO/IEC 23360-7:2006 and follows LSB editorial rules as prepared by the Linux Foundation.

Keywords: ISO/IEC 23360-7-3, Linux Standard Base, LSB, S390, s390x, desktop specification, ABI, API, GTK+, Qt, binary compatibility, package dependencies.