---
name: "backend-spec"
section: "7"
platform: "linux"
package: "docbook-utils"
version: "0.6.15-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/backend-spec"
---

# backend-spec(7)

interface between jw and its backends

## NAME

backend-spec - interface between jw and its backends

## DESCRIPTION

[**jw**(1)](/jw/1.md) calls backends like *backends/html* to do the "real" conversion work. The backend gets all necessary data delivered via environment variables ready to use.

This documentation describes those environment variables.

The backend is run in the directory where the output files are to be created. It should return 0 if there weren't any problem, and return a positive value otherwise.

## VARIABLES

- **SGML\_FILE\_NAME**

  The bare name of the source file

- **SGML\_FILE**

  The full name and path of the source file

- **SGML\_JADE**

  The name of the parser (usually **Jade** or **OpenJade**)

- **SGML\_ARGUMENTS**

  The full argument-string for **Jade** or **OpenJade**

- **SGML\_CATALOG\_FILES**

  The list of catalog files needed by **Jade** or **OpenJade**

- **SGML\_STYLESHEET**

  The style sheet to use

- **SGML\_BASE\_DIR**

  The base directory of the SGML system (default is */usr/share/sgml*)

## FILES

## SEE ALSO

[**frontend-spec**(7)](/frontend-spec/7.md)

## AUTHORS

Jochem Huhmann \<joh@revier.com\>