Are there such things as Linux platform specific software??

From: Lord Williams (lordwill_at_quik.com)
Date: 02/21/05 

Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 12:56:34 -0800

I want to go into programming for developing software for Linux platform.
My concern is and If I have to port source code between two Unixes such
say AIX and Linux, I want to be aware about using features of Linux that are
considered specific for Linux only. But I dont know how to identifiy WHAT
is Linux specific and especially the are different distros of Linux
that may implement their own system specific programs.

SO.. my questions are:

1. what defines what part of the UNIX OS that is general to all Unixes and
Linux?

2. what defines what is only specific to Linux distros by standards (i.e.
hardware vectors) ?

For instance one of my applications or problems is a program that recognizes the
PS/2 based keyboards for reading or interpreting the F keys that I can use on three
flavors of Unix such as, AIX, Solaris, and Linux for starters. If I design
the program on Linux, then I have to know what is Linux specific in terms
of the hardware vectors, If I design the program on AIX then I have to
know what specifics are for AIX, if I design the program on Solaris...
Ditto...same kind of problem. Im head butting into a non-standandard and I
need to rethink this over, for portability.

So thats my bigger concern here...

Any ideas?

LW
 

 

 

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