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Date:      Tue, 27 Oct 1998 21:37:15 -0500
From:      Drew Baxter <netmonger@genesis.ispace.com>
To:        Licia <licia@o-o.org>
Cc:        Wes Peters <wes@softweyr.com>, Greg Lehey <grog@lemis.com>, Terry Lambert <tlambert@primenet.com>, kkennawa@physics.adelaide.edu.au, advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: FreeBSD certified software (was: WordPerfect 8 for Linux)
Message-ID:  <4.1.19981027213218.00a704a0@genesis.ispace.com>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.3.96.981027201553.8843A-100000@o-o>
References:  <36367CE6.BFF12693@softweyr.com>

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[Clipped the crap out of this.. 
At 08:32 PM 10/27/98 -0600, you wrote:
>
>I think the initial idea itself is a good one.  It seems like an important
>first step towards encouraging and even validating applications developers
>who support or specialize in FreeBSD.
>

It would also plug support in a lot of ways.  Especially people saying "oh
it works on FreeBSD, what's that?" and people would go look.  All in all, I
think it's a very sound idea and should be implemented.

>An interesting thought, how will verification of such things be accomplished?
>For example, I'm developing a spam filter called Bouncer.  It's a TCP daemon
>that stands on port 25, handling all connections, passing acceptable data
>through to any existing MTA (like sendmail) that supports a stdio smtp/esmtp
>mode.  It offers several policy mechanisms for dealing with possible spam
>as well as ip/hostname banning for several places in the email header.  I'm
>writing it specifically for use under FreeBSD.  Right now the only available
>version is an early alpha binary.(fully functional, about 90%
feature-complete)
>If I were to apply for this certification for Bouncer, what criteria would I
>need to meet?  Would I need to provide source?  Would I need to provide a
>fully configured system?  Would I simply need to give you my word that it's
>there and that it works?  What sort of procedure do you envision for
>certification of this type of situation?  (if source is required, I could
>not submit it until Beta, as that is when I will release the source)

That's a good question..  I'd imagine certification would be if the program
runs on a variety of differing machines.  If it's 'made in/on/for' FreeBSD,
I'd imagine it'd be 'Designed For FreeBSD'.. 

Does anyone know how Microsoft does their certification? Maybe R&D goes "It
works under Windows 95" and just puts the sticker on it.

>
>> 
>> The second, "Works with FreeBSD," is for software that runs on FreeBSD
>> under emulation, and/or hardware that is known to work well with FreeBSD.
>> Say, for instance, I've made several workstations with a particular
>> motherboard from XYZ Corp., and have found it easy to configure and use.
>> I write up a description of the system's I've built, which XYZ Corp 
>> motherboard(s) I've used, and submit this to the "Works" page.  It's
>> filed, and the company is awared the "Works" logo.
>> 
>> Same deal for software under emulation.  Linux apps, SCO apps, BSDI apps,
>> etc.  A good example of this is the Acrobat Reader binary I have installed
>> on my workstation; it's a Linux binary installed with a port kit.  Whoever
>> undertakes to do the testing would make notes on what is required to get
>> it to work, i.e. "needs Linux emulation pre-installed; at step 4 in the
>> included installation process, stop and 'brandelf /usr/local/bin/Xword'"
>> or something of the sort.  If the person doing the testing wants to create
>> a 'port' that will install the product and offer it to the company, or 
>> just post it on FreeBSD servers; so much the better.
>> 
>
>Would this be extended to things such as dos applications useable via doscmd,
>windows applications useable in wine, and the various other emulators (such
>as amiga, mac, commodore 64, etc)? or would it require that the emulation be
>one of those included in a common base line installation?
>
>> > Would companies be allowed to use the certification in advertisements?
>> 
>> I certainly hope they do!  Ideally, we'd want them to put the logo on their 
>> web pages for the branded product(s), pointing to the FreeBSD web pages 
>> talking about the testing and support of the product.  We'd also want them 
>> to stick stickers on the box, or on the hardware itself.  Yeah, I'd like to 
>> see a little "Designed for FreeBSD" sticker on the back (or front!) of the 
>> Whistle InterJet and Pluto SPACE Platform.
>> 
>
>What would be the restrictions on such usage?
>
>> > Would related logos be available, to the effect of "We support the FreeBSD
>> > Certification Effort"?
>> 
>> I think the above two pretty much cover it.  We're calling more attention
>> to those who really work with us, and offering to do the testing, etc.,
>> work for the "Works with" products.
>
>What sort of structure, organization, and procedures do you see as needed
>to bring this to a strong level of validity and professionalism?
>
>[ licia@o-o.org ]  [ http://www.o-o.org/ ]  [ IrcNick : Licia ]
>[ A happy user of FreeBSD : http://www.freebsd.org/           ]
>[ Why crawl through windows when you can walk through a door? ]
>[ This user boycotts all Microsoft products and services      ]
>

---
Drew "Droobie" Baxter
Network Admin/Professional Computer Nerd(TM)
OneEX: The OneNetwork Exchange 207-942-0275
http://www.droo.orland.me.us
My Latest Kernel: FreeBSD 3.0-CURRENT (ONEEX) #14: Mon Oct 19 22:36:58 EDT 1998


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