HP-UX 11i June 2003 Release Notes

Compatibility
Obsolescence and Deprecation of APIs
Chapter 14
279
Obsolescence and Deprecation of APIs
This section defines the obsolescence of core system libraries and relocatable objects.
Obsolescence of other products are covered in separate sections.
Rationale and Objectives
HP’s rationale and objectives for obsolescence and deprecation of APIs are as follows:
• provide common, standard APIs across UNIX vendors
• facilitate portability for our ISVs
• reduce confusion for the selection of similar APIs
• reduce the size of libc, thus increasing performance of shared libc
• reduce the continued application turbulence for future architecture changes
• remove compatibility problems for applications linked to shared libraries that have
dependencies on archive system libraries
• reduce satisfaction issues with APIs that have specific defects (for example,
compatibility issues)
• reduce support costs for APIs that are not moving in the strategic direction of
standards, the industry, and our customers
• minimize adoption issues for new releases on PA-RISC or Itanium
The intent is that there will be no gratuitous changes. Obsolescence of APIs and libraries
will be acceptable only when initiated to avoid application breakage or duplicate
functionality.
Terms and Definitions
Deprecated: A deprecated interface can have the following characteristics:
• functionality is available on the system
• deprecation is a step towards obsolescence
• the specification is in flux
• has less value to users
• functionality no longer makes sense
• functionality has been replaced
• support/enhancement expectations have been lowered
• usage is discouraged
• warnings against usage/alternatives have been provided
• the provider continues to test functionality
• migration plan/tools have been provided
The reasons for marking an interface as deprecated may include the following:
• marked “to be withdrawn” by standards
• support is available via more standard means
• equivalent, enhanced, more reliable counterparts exist
• any or all reasons listed in the “Obsolete” section below