Unix International Inc has published its applications programming interface specification covering the Open Systems Interconnection model layers four to seven. The document, in creation since 1989, is the work of Unix International’s OSI Work Group and represents input of some 40 companies. Open Software Foundation members Hewlett-Packard Co and Digital Equipment Corp, the latter on a more informal basis, also participated. Unix System Laboratories Inc will start delivering code based on the specification in a few months. The specification embraces the Open Systems Interconnection protocol known as the Association Control Service Element/Presentation Library Interface (ACSE/PLI), which the Work Group was instrumental in having developed and which enables applications to run across heterogeneous systems. Unix International chief Peter Cunningham said the Corporation for Open Systems International Inc, Europe’s Standards, Promotion and Applications Group, SPAG, and Japan’s POSI are expected to endorse the document along with X/Open Co Ltd whose own XNet Work Group has already adopted the specification as part of its own Open Systems Interconnection document. Unix International also released a draft document specifying hardware and software standards for its Japanese language implementation of the base operating system, windowing system and graphical user interface. Cunningham said the bulk of the Japanese companies, including those affiliated with the Open Software Foundation are expected to endorse the specification. Formal review begins later this month in Japan. Unix International expects to have a formal document in September, with Unix System Laboratories developing product thereafter. Cunningham noted that the specification was expected to hasten the adoption of Unix at the commercial and office automation end of the Japanese market, where its use to date has been scanty – the Japanese are about five years behind Europe and three years behind the US in application of Unix.
