Qt Included in New LSB Desktop Standard

Yesterday the LSB Workgroup released the first version of the LSB-Desktop specification. Qt and Gtk+ are part of this new specification which is another step towards standardizing the Linux Desktop. The KDE project and Trolltech are working closely with the LSB Workgroup to have KDE itself accepted in future LSB-Desktop releases when the standard further evolves. Read on for the full press release.

KDE's core library - Qt - included in new LSB desktop standard "ISO standard for Linux extended with desktop specifications"

DATELINE April 25, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 25, 2006 (The Internet) - KDE®, the open source project that creates user-friendly desktop software, announced today that its core library Qt® from Trolltech® is part of the Linux Standard Base (LSB) Final Release 3.1 standards specification document. The new LSB desktop standard includes the Qt 3.3 libraries and the tools required to create Qt-based applications, both of which are the foundation of KDE. An additional standard includes Qt 4, the next generation technology which will be used in the upcoming KDE 4 release.

The LSB, a workgroup of the Free Standards Group organization, works to develop through consensus a standard operating environment for the Linux platform. This allows third-party application developers to ship a single version of their application that works on all LSB-compliant systems, regardless of the Linux distribution. With the inclusion of Qt in the LSB desktop specifications many desktop applications will now benefit.

"KDE wants to prevent fragmentation of the Linux Desktop market," stated Olaf Schmidt, a KDE representative in the LSB Workgroup. "Collaboration is currently one of the hot topics in the KDE community, and this is why our participation in the LSB makes a lot of sense." Other efforts supported by KDE include the OSDL Portland project, which aims to make it easier for applications to integrate well into all Linux distributions and desktops, and freedesktop.org, where KDE cooperates with other open source projects on common, open interfaces.

"KDE has always been a strong supporter of open standards", Schmidt added. "Our KOffice developers have made key contributions to the OpenDocument standard. Code from Konqueror, our standards compliant web browser, has been adopted by Apple and Nokia. We are also active in the Accessibility Workgroup of the Free Standards Group, where we make Linux more accessible to users both with and without disabilities."

The LSB Desktop standard ensures that KDE is supported through the inclusion of its foundation library Qt in the specification. Trolltech and KDE are both represented in the LSB Workgroup and will continue to work with the Workgroup to ensure that future products including, but not limited to, KDE itself will meet the requirements for inclusion in subsequent LSB specifications.

"The LSB workgroup is pleased to see the participation in and support for LSB 3.1 from the KDE project", said Ian Murdock, chief technology officer of the Free Standards Group. "Since our new standard now includes support for desktop libraries, it's crucial that KDE and other desktop projects participate in the process. We are all working toward the same goal: expansion of applications on the Linux desktop and continued success for Linux. This release is testament that we are well on our way of achieving that goal."

Ends

For more information see press contacts listed at the bottom of this release.

Supporting KDE

KDE is an open source project that exists and grows only because of the help of many volunteers that donate their time and effort. KDE is always looking for new volunteers and contributions, whether its help with coding, bug fixing or reporting, writing documentation, translations, promotion, money, etc. All contributions are gratefully appreciated and eagerly accepted. Please read through the Supporting KDE page for further information.

About The KDE Project

The KDE® project consists of hundreds of developers, translators, artists and other contributors worldwide collaborating over the Internet. The community creates and freely distributes a stable, integrated and free desktop and office environment. KDE provides a flexible, component-based, network-transparent architecture and powerful development tools, offering an outstanding development platform. Reflecting its international team and focus, KDE 3.5 is currently available in over 80 different languages.

KDE, which is based on Qt technology from Trolltech, is working proof that the Open Source "Bazaar-style" software development model can yield first-rate technologies on par with and superior to even the most complex commercial software.

Trademark Notices.

KDE, K Desktop Environment and the KDE Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of KDE e.V. in the European Union, the United States and other countries. Trolltech and Qt are registered trademarks of Trolltech AS. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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