Linux Software Map: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Software metadata database and file format}}

{{Orphanupdate|date=May 20082014}}

'''Linux Software Map''' (LSM) is a standard text [[file format]] for describing [[Linux]] [[software]]. It also refers to the [[database]] constructed from these files. LSM is one of the standard methods for announcing a new software release for Linux.

== File format ==

If a Linux program is to be distributed widely, an LSM file may be created to describe the program, normally in a file called ''software_package_name''.lsm. This file begins with <tt>{{mono|Begin4</tt>}} and ends with <tt>{{mono|End</tt>}}. It has one [[field (computer science)|field]] on each line. The field name is separated from the value by a [[colon (punctuation)|colon]] (:). Mandatory fields are Title, Version, Entered-date, Description, Author and Primary-site.

==Example==

Here is a what a blank LSM template looks like, at time of writing:

<pre>

Begin4

Title:

Version:

Entered-date:

Description:

Keywords:

Author:

Maintained-by:

Primary-site:

Alternate-site:

Original-site:

Platforms:

Copying-policy:

End
</pre>

== Database ==

The collective [[database]] of LSM entries can be searched in order to locate [[software]] of a particular type. This database has passed through various owners. It was created by Jeff Kopmanis, Lars Wirzenius maintained it for a while, and now the current maintainer is Aaron Schrab (with help from volunteers).

The database can be [[download]]ed in its entirety, or one can perform limited [[Information retrieval|queries]] using a [[web interface]].

As of August 2022, the LSM index is still automatically updated by a e-mail robot. However, the maintainer of [[man-db]] eventually decided to stop maintaining its LSM data due to the perceived obsolescence of LSM.<ref name="Toscano">{{cite web |last1=Toscano |first1=Pino |title=Drop LSM file (!4) · Merge requests · man-db / man-db · GitLab |url=https://gitlab.com/man-db/man-db/-/merge_requests/4 |website=GitLab |date=13 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==

*[http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/LSM-TEMPLATE.html LSM template version 4] on ibiblio.org

*[http://lsm.qqx.org/lsm/LSM.gz Entire LSM Database]

*[http://www.boutell.com/lsm/ Web interface] maintained by Thomas Boutell

*[http://www.ibiblio.org/linsearch/index.html Simple LSM Search] on ibiblio.org

*[http://www.ibiblio.org/linsearch/index.html Advanced LSM Search] on ibiblio.org

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