Apple licenses Unix printing system from Easy


Easy Software Products' CUPS software will provide enhanced printing capabilities to MacOS X and other Apple software, as well as improved UNIX/Linux and Windows interoperability. The standard CUPS distribution will be provided with Apple's open source Darwin operating system, while an enhanced version of CUPS with Apple's Aqua user interface will be provided with MacOS X.

CUPS provides a portable printing layer for UNIX-based operating systems. It has been developed by Easy Software Products to promote a standard printing solution for all UNIX/Linux vendors and users. CUPS provides the System V and Berkeley command-line interfaces.

CUPS uses the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) as the basis for managing print jobs and queues. The Line Printer Daemon (LPD) Server Message Block (SMB), and AppSocket (JetDirect) protocols are also supported with reduced functionality. CUPS adds network printer browsing and PostScript Printer Description (PPD) based printing options to support real-world printing under UNIX.

CUPS also includes a customized version of GNU Ghostscript (currently based on Ghostscript 5.50) and an image file RIP, which is capability graphics and publishing houses need to effectively implement OS X, that are used to support non-PostScript printers. Sample drivers for Dymo, EPSON, HP, and OKIDATA printers are included that use these filters.

CUPS is licensed under the GNU General Public License and GNU Library General Public License.

Easy Software Products is an eight year old small business that produces printing, document management, Internet, and computer graphics solutions for UNIX and Microsoft Windows -- sold in 120 countries worldwide.

Analysis: Printer support is an area where Apple has traditionally been weak. Hopefully with this new unified and largely open Linux-Unix-OS X printing strategy more printers and printer services will be available to all who use trueware -- i.e. not closed, not proprietary, not M$ -- operating systems and applications.

Also, I really like seeing a small business get ahead. Not some fly-by-night start up, but a small business. Good for the little guy, meaning you and me.