The Linux Internationalization Initiative has been organized
Oct 4th, 14:10 UTC
The Linux Internationalization Initiative (Li18nux) is pleased to announce
its foundation. The Li18nux consists of Linux distributors, Linux related
and other open source projects, IT vendors, and worldwide technical experts
who are interested in internationalization. The purpose of forming the
Li18nux is to promote a common and fully internationalized application
platform among Linux distributions.
Press Announcement
1999-09-29
For immediate release
Contact: Co-Chairs of Li18nux
-
U.S.: Hideki Hiura
Hideki.Hiura@Sun.COM
-
Asia: Akio Kido
kido@jp.ibm.com
-
Europe: Chris N. Simmons chris@SuSE.com
The Linux Internationalization Initiative has been organized
The Linux Internationalization Initiative (Li18nux) is pleased to announce
its foundation. The Li18nux consists of Linux distributors, Linux related
and other open source projects, IT vendors, and worldwide technical experts
who are interested in internationalization. The purpose of forming the
Li18nux is to promote a common and fully internationalized application
platform among Linux distributions.
To date, the organizations and projects participating in Li18nux are,
Caldera Systems(www.calderasystems.com),
Debimaru GNU/Linux(llc.linet.gr.jp/~yochi/debimaru),
Kondara(kondara.sdri.co.jp),
Laser5(www.laser5.co.jp),
Omoikane(www.omoikane.co.jp),
Plamo Linux(www.linet.gr.jp/~kojima/plamo),
Red Hat(www.redhat.com),
SuSE(www.suse.com),
TurboLinux(www.turbolinux.com),
Chinese Linux Extension(cle.linux.org.tw),
glibc (sourceware.cygnus.com/glibc),
Guile(www.gnu.org/software/guile),
ICU (www.ibm.com/alphaworks/tech/icu),
KDE Estornian team,
Mozilla (www.mozilla.org),
Samba-Team(samba.org),
Linux Standard Base (www.linuxbase.org),
A.C.E. InfoTech Group Inc(www.aceinfotech.com),
Adobe(www.adobe.com),
Basis Technology Corp(www.basistech.com),
CIJ America, Inc(www.cij.com),
Compaq Computer Corp.(www.compaq.com),
Cygnus Solutions(www.cygnus.com),
Franklin Covey(www.franklincovey.com),
Fujitsu Ltd.(www.fujitsu.co.jp),
IBM(www.ibm.com),
Itochu Techno-Science Corporation(www.ctc-g.co.jp),
Metro Link, Inc.(www.metrolink.com),
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (www.melco.co.jp),
NEC Corporation(www.nec.co.jp),
Netscape Communications, Inc.(www.netscape.com),
Oracle Japan(www.oracle.co.jp),
SGI(www.sgi.com),
Softel(www.sofitel.co.il),
Sun Microsystems, Inc.(www.sun.com),
Synopsys(www.synopsys.com),
Free Software Foundation(www.fsf.org),
Japan Linux Association(www.linux.or.jp),
Linux Research Society NLS Section(www.linet.gr.jp),
Team I18N(www.i18n.org),
Linux Business Initiative(www.lbi.gr.jp),
Ministere de la culture et de la communication[France](www.culture.gouv.fr),
Multilingual Linux(mulix.ffii.org),
Tokyo Linux Users Group(www.tlug.gr.jp),
Selskabet for Rationel Almen Plangningfond(www.rap.dk),
Sydney Linux Users' Group(www.slug.org.au).
The objectives of the Li18nux are:
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Leverage collaborative efforts among contributors of Linux Internationalization.
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Provide a forum for contributors to have technical discussions about Internationalization.
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Perform necessary coordination among projects that are related to Linux
Internationalization.
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Actively disseminate Linux Internationalization related information.
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Provide specification of Internationalized APIs and components that every
distribution should include to ensure application portability and interoperability
among various Linux distributions.
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Develop a catalogue of Internationalized components of Linux (including
documentation, message catalogues, etc).
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Establish necessary liaisons with various committees and organizations
who are working on Internationalization.
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Define a process for creation of and dissemination of a core set of Globalized
documentation and localizable elements for Linux and applications that
run on Linux
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Produce documentation on how to globalize applications and other
resources for Linux.
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Promote the universal translation of existing and future documentation
by working with existing documentation and localization providers.
The result of the Li18nux activity shall be open to anyone through the
web site, www.li18nux.org. The specification of the internationalized APIs
and component specifications shall also be proposed to Linux Standard Base
for inclusion in the future standardization.
The Li18nux is currently lead by the following officers:
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Hideki Hiura (Sun Microsystems) for North and Latin America
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Akio Kido (IBM) for Asia Pacific
-
Chris N. Simon(SuSE) for Europe
.
The charter of the Li18nux is available from
http://www.li18nux.org/charter/indexen.html
The following are support statements from various organizations and
projects:
TurboLinux
With the creation of the Linux Internationalization Initiative, GNU/Linux
users from all over the world will have increased access to tools and applications
appropriate to their locale. TurboLinux knows that GNU/Linux systems need
to work with world, not just one language and one country. TurboLinux is
a member of LI18NUX and supports standardized I18N.
CSK Corporation
CSK Corporation welcomes the establishment of the Linux Internationalization
Initiative, because it will enhance the better opportunities of our customers'
choice for the system architecture as well as increase the quality products
and services on the Japanese Open technologies marketplace.
Congratulations for the establishment of this working group. On behalf
of our members, I would like to express our support to your activities,
as we fully agree with your objectives, and to apply for our participation
in this initiative.
Japan Linux Association(JLA)
Congratulations for the establishment of this working group.
On behalf of our members, we, Japan Linux Association(JLA), would
like to express our support to your activities, as we fully agree
with your objectives, and to apply for our participation in this initiative.
JLA membership is mainly composed of Linux users and vendors
in Japan. For the continuous growth of Linux in Japanese market,
it is mandatory to support better Japanese environment on Linux.
We believe this initiative will be a great help for all countries
in the world to develop, deploy and use more tools and applications
of GNU, Linux and open sources, and will establish the best platform of Linux
globalization standards to support both single-byte and multi-bytes countries,
including not only Japanese but also China and Korea.
We commit ourselves to contribute with our voluntary work,
participating in discussions and giving suggestions, beta-testing
and coding software components, disseminating information and helping
to spread Li18nux standards.
Tokyo Linux Users Group
TLUG membership is composed of Linux users whose nationalities represent
countries from all continents in the world. Internatio- nalization and
localization of Linux-related sofware has been a common issue among our
members, and it is our hope that fruits from Li18nux activities lead to
the developement of politically and technically correct Linux globalization
standards.
We commit ourselves to contribute with our voluntary work, participating
in discussions and giving suggestions, beta-testing and coding software
components, disseminating information and helping to spread Li18nux standards.
SuSE
I am pleased to forward to you this statement of support for the Linux
Internationalisation Initiative from our Development Director, Mr. Rex.
"We appreciate the work of the LI18NUX group. SuSE as part of this group
will help to create a localized and internationalized Linux OS from a single
codebase. We are very glad that we can help the Open Source community with
our efforts to reach this goal".
Markus Rex, Director Development, SuSE GmbH
Red Hat Inc.
Red Hat Inc., the leader of Linux and open operating software solutions,
object to widen the market size itself. Linux Internationalization Initiative
has very important meaning as the needs of internationalization is growing
bigger. Red Hat Japan strongly support Li18nux as a member.”
Masanobu Hirano
Managing Director
Red Hat Japan, Inc.
NTT DATA
"NTT DATA views Linux and other Free Software as an important key to the
information system. Such as LI18NUX WG, cooperative efforts among communities
are very suitable for those software's internationalization. And we hope
all users, developers, and business corporations will be able to enjoy
the result of this WG."
Fujitsu Ltd.
Mr. Kazunari Morimoto, General Manager of Fujitsu's Software Business Promotion
Division (a division of Fujitsu's Software Group), said, "For further acceptance
of Linux as a standard platform, Fujitsu thinks that the user community
will welcome the standardization of Linux's localization framework. Fujitsu
would like to actively participate in the Linux internationalization initiative
and contribute its expertise in Japanese language technology."
NEC Corporation
NEC believes that the Li18nux Working Group will become driving force for
the internationalization of Linux. Through WG's activities, NEC will contribute
development of future Linux market.
Geneal Manager, Hiroo Shin
C&C SYSTEMS MARKETING DIVISION
NEC
Caldera Systems
"As long time supporters of Linux Standard Base (LSB) we loudly applaud
the Linux Internationalization Initiative (Li18nux)," said Ransom Love,
president and CEO of Caldera Systems. "To leverage and foster these collaborative
efforts among the Linux and Open Source communities is far-sighted and
pioneering. Now there will be internationalized API standards and specifications
that will ensure portability and interoperability between distributions,
providing more Linux for Business solutions. It's a much needed step."
Linux Business Initiative
Linux Business Initiative (LBI) congratulates that Linux
Internationalization Intiative is formed to start your new era.
In global field, we highlight mutual understanding of normalization
toward developing application. In other word, to avoid incompatibility
between distribution would create meaningful multi-national system.
We are very interested in Li18nux's various coming activity. We are
pleased to support you.
Motoharu Kubo
Chairman of Linux Business Initiative
IBM
"The growth of e-business has increased the need for global software that
transcends language barriers," said Robert J. LeBlanc, vice president,
Software Strategy, IBM Software Solutions Division. "By combining the resources
and expertise of the many companies involved, the Linux Internationalization
Initiative will help globalize Linux and speed the development of new classes
of applications that are both internationalized and portable across various
Linux distributions."
Sun Microsystems, Inc
"Sun is leveraging its expertise in the area of Internationaliztion to
provide assistance to the Linux community. Linux is consistent with Sun's
own computing vision of employing open standards and non-proprietary interfaces
to develop products and services that address the needs of various environments.
These types of initiatives help accelerate the adoption of open computing
and fuel innovation in the global software development community, benefiting
both customers and developers worldwide."
(Submitted by Alberto Tomita of Tokyo Linux Users Group)
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