We are pleased to announce that the Open Printing Microconference has been accepted into the 2021 Linux Plumbers Conference. Over the years OpenPrinting has been actively working on improving and modernizing the way we print in Linux. We have been working on multiple areas of printing and scanning. Especially driverless print and scan technologies have helped the world do away with a lot of hassles involved in deciding on the correct driver to use and to install the same. Users can now just plug in their printer and do what they need.

Based on the discussions that we had last year, we have been able to achieve the following:

– Significant progress in deciding on the structure of PAPPL – framework/library for developing Printer Applications as a replacement of Printer Drivers.

– Progress on LPrint. Label Printer Application, implementing printing for a variety of common label and receipt printers connected via network or USB.

– Have helped us in giving shape to the Printer Application concept. Sample printer applications for HP PCL printers have been created that use PAPPL to support IPP printing from multiple operating systems. This prototype will help others looking forward to adopting this new concept of Printer Applications. First production Printer Application started from this prototype is the PostScript Printer Application.

Development is in continuous progress, see the state of the art in OpenPrinting’s monthly news posts[6].

This year’s topics to be discussed include:

• Changes in CUPS 2.4.x
  • Print sharing changes for mobile
  • OAauth support to replace Kerberos
  • Printer drivers replaced with Printer Applications
  • TLS/X.509 changes
• CUPS in containers
  • CUPS 3.0
  • Future CUPS development
  • Identify support platforms
  • Key printing system components
  • Discuss integration with Printer Applications and application stores like Snap Store
• Print Management GUI
  • Migrating from working with CUPS queues to IPP services
  • Handling legacy devices that do not handle IPP services
• Common Print Dialog Backends
  • CPDB, CUPS backend.
  • Separating GUI toolkits and the print technology support to be independent from each other.
• Printer/Scanner Driver Design and Development
  • Design, creation and Snap-packaging of Printer/Scanner Applications.

Come join us and participate in the discussion to bring Linux printing, scanning and fax a better experience.

We hope to see you there.