Editing Executable and Linkable Format (section)

== 86open ==
'''86open''' was a project to form consensus on a common binary file format for Unix and Unix-like operating systems on the common PC compatible x86 architecture, to encourage software developers to port to the architecture.<ref>{{cite web
 |url= http://www.telly.org/86open-faq
 |title= 86Open Frequently-Asked Questions
 |access-date= 2007-06-06
 |last= Leibovitch
 |first= Evan
 |date= 1997-12-23
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070311032337/http://www.telly.org/86open-faq <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date= 2007-03-11}}</ref> The initial idea was to standardize on a small subset of Spec 1170, a predecessor of the Single UNIX Specification, and the GNU C Library (glibc) to enable unmodified binaries to run on the x86 Unix-like operating systems. The project was originally designated "Spec 150".

The format eventually chosen was ELF, specifically the Linux implementation of ELF, after it had turned out to be a ''de facto'' standard supported by all involved vendors and operating systems.

The group began email discussions in 1997 and first met together at the Santa Cruz Operation offices on August 22, 1997.

The steering committee was Marc Ewing, Dion Johnson, Evan Leibovitch, [[Bruce Perens]], Andrew Roach, Bryan Wayne Sparks and Linus Torvalds. Other people on the project were Keith Bostic, Chuck Cranor, Michael Davidson,<!--At least three other Michael Davidsons in WP as of 04.2007--> Chris G. Demetriou, Ulrich Drepper, Don Dugger, Steve Ginzburg, Jon "maddog" Hall, Ron Holt, Jordan Hubbard, Dave Jensen, Kean Johnston, Andrew Josey, Robert Lipe, Bela Lubkin, Tim Marsland, Greg Page,<!--Three other people by that name in WP as of 04.2007--> Ronald Joe Record, Tim Ruckle, Joel Silverstein, Chia-pi Tien, and Erik Troan. Operating systems and companies represented were BeOS, BSDI, FreeBSD, [[Intel]], Linux, NetBSD, SCO and SunSoft.

The project progressed and in mid-1998, SCO began developing lxrun, an open-source compatibility layer able to run Linux binaries on OpenServer, UnixWare, and Solaris. SCO announced official support of lxrun at LinuxWorld in March 1999. Sun Microsystems began officially supporting lxrun for Solaris in early 1999,<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.mavetju.org/mail/view_message.php?list=freebsd-emulation&id=361608
 |title       = Bulletin on status of 86open at SCO
 |access-date = 2008-05-06
 |last        = Record
 |first       = Ronald
 |date        = 1998-05-21
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081208013909/http://www.mavetju.org/mail/view_message.php?list=freebsd-emulation&id=361608
 |archive-date = 2008-12-08
}}</ref> and later moved to integrated support of the Linux binary format via Solaris Containers for Linux Applications.

With the BSDs having long supported Linux binaries (through a compatibility layer) and the main x86 Unix vendors having added support for the format, the project decided that Linux ELF was the format chosen by the industry and "declare[d] itself dissolved" on July 25, 1999.<ref>{{cite web
 |url= https://www.telly.org/86open/
 |title= The86open Project – Final Update
 |access-date= 2007-05-06
 |last= Leibovitch
 |first= Evan
 |date= 1999-07-25
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070227214032/http://www.telly.org/86open/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date= 2007-02-27}}</ref>