This week's LinuxWorld Conference and Expo showed the first software tools in the effort, called Project Portland. Using them, a software company can write a single software package that works using either of the prevailing graphical interfaces. OSDL and a cooperating group called Freedesktop.org that's already working on unifying interface issues plan to release a beta version of the software in May and version 1.0 in June. Ultimately, advocates hope it will be part of a larger but separate effort called the Linux Standard Base, which is designed to make the operating system easier on software companies. The Project Portland began as a meeting among developers at OSDL in Portland, Ore., in December, organizers said. KDE and GNOME both endorsed the project. Unlike Windows and Mac OS X, Linux has two major sets of graphical interfaces, presenting people with different items such as control panels, complicating cut-and-paste operations, and requiring programmers to be aware of what underpinnings they're using for elements such as dialogue boxes or pull-down menus. It's common for software packages from both to be installed on Linux machines, letting programs created for either to run smoothly, but that circumstance isn't guaranteed. News source: CNetRead full story...

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