Side-documents extend and/or modify features, semantics, language bindings, and other aspects covered in this document. Side-documents shall not modify any aspects defined in the MPI Standard without providing a mechanism that explicitly enables these deviations. Execution of a program that does not explicitly enable deviations from the MPI Standard will comply with the MPI Standard, even when using an MPI implementation that implements a side-document that modifies any aspects.
Each side-document is versioned with a scheme that is independent from the MPI Standard version and from other side-documents. All side-documents specify compatibility and interoperability with versions of the MPI Standard and may define interoperability with features and semantics from other side-documents. Side-documents are not required to provide full coverage of all MPI concepts, but shall document which MPI concepts are affected. A compliant implementation is not required to comply with any side-documents. However, if compliance with a particular version of a side-document is claimed, the implementation must comply with the entire side-document. Side-documents will be found at the same location as the MPI Standard[1].