From:	 Mark Stone <mark@osdn.com>
To:	 printing-summit@lists.sourceforge.net
Subject: [Printing-summit] 20001 Printing Summit
Date:	 Thu, 16 Aug 2001 16:53:50 -0700 (PDT)

The Open Source Development Network (OSDN), in conjunction with
Hewlett-Packard and IBM, will be holding the Second annual Linux
Printing Summit on September 13 and 14 at the Hyatt Saint Claire
in San Jose, California.

This summit will be a free event, but due to limited space attedance
is by invitation only. An overview of the event is provided below,
and more information is available at http://www.osdn.com/conferences.
If you are interested in attending, please send email to
events@osdn.com, or call 978.635.5300.

   Overview
_________________________________________________________________

   Printing Summit Objectives:

The 2001 Linux Printing Summit addresses the need for and facilitates
the creation of, a single printing system architecture for the Linux
operating system. The alignment of the various printing-related Open
Source projects allows innovation within any project, while ensuring
interoperability of various project technologies. This type of
coordination between projects enables real cooperation between Open
Source developers and programmers working on Open Source printing in
enterprise environments.

   Why is a summit needed?

The technologies being developed by the various Open Source printing
projects are often not interoperable. For example, various spooler
projects are likely to be incompatible or not interchangeable. Vendors
who sell Linux systems and distributions that create complete desktop
solutions, are forced to pick from the various incomplete printing
solutions or invest in the creation of a custom printing
infrastructure. Therefore, there are many projects that attack the
same functional areas, wasting valuable resources, while other
essential functionality languishes untouched.

   What can we do?

We can form working groups to see if common interfaces can be defined
for architectural blocks, such as spoolers. Common interfaces will
allow multiple projects operating, on the same block, to innovate and
solve specific problems, while complimenting other efforts in the same
area. As a result, vendors and distributions will have the flexibility
to select appropriate technologies that best solve their customers'
needs. Moreover, areas that are unattended can be highlighted to the
Community of Open Source developers and Linux vendors.


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