PowerOpen Environment


PowerOpen Environment

(operating system)(POE) A definition containing API andABI specifications based on the PowerPC architecture. Itis not an operating system. The presence of the ABIspecification in the POE distinguishes it from other opensystems (POSIX, XPG4, etc.) since it allows platformindependent binary compatibility which is otherwise typicallylimited to particular hardware.

The POE is an open standard, derived from AIX andconforming to industry open standards including POSIX,XPG4 and Motif. The POE specification will be publiclyavailable to anyone wishing to produce either application programs or hardware platforms. The PowerOpen Association will provide the necessary conformance testingand POE branding.

The POE is hardware bus independent. System implementationscan range from laptop computers to supercomputers. Itrequires a multi-user, multitasking operating system. Itprovides networking support, an X Window System extension, aMacintosh Application Services extension and Motif. It isconformance tested and certified by an independent party(the PowerOpen Association).

The POE specification is targeted for availability in thefirst quarter of 1994. The PowerOpen Association will soonhave some of the information material available on-line.