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+> DRAFT
+
+# Machine Driver Specification v1
+This is the standard configuration and specification for version 1 drivers.
+
+Along with defining how a driver should provision instances, the standard
+also discusses behavior and operations Machine expects.
+
+# Requirements
+The following are required for a driver to be included as a supported driver
+for Docker Machine.
+
+## Base Operating System
+The provider must offer a base operating system supported by the Docker Engine.
+
+## API Access
+We prefer accessing the provider service via HTTP APIs and strongly recommend
+using those over external executables.  For example, using the Amazon EC2 API
+instead of the EC2 command line tools.  If in doubt, contact a project
+maintainer.
+
+## SSH
+The provider must offer SSH access to control the instance.  This does not
+have to be public, but must offer it as Machine relies on SSH for system
+level maintenance.
+
+## Maintainer
+To be supported as an official driver, it will need to be maintained.  There
+can be multiple driver maintainers and they will be identified in the 
+maintainers file.
+
+# Provider Operations
+The following instance operations should be supported by the provider.
+
+## Create
+`Create` will launch a new instance and make sure it is ready for provisioning.
+This includes setting up the instance with the proper SSH keys and making
+sure SSH is available including any access control (firewall).  This should
+return an error on failure.
+
+## Remove
+`Remove` will remove the instance from the provider.  This should remove the
+instance and any associated services or artifacts that were created as part
+of the instance including keys and access groups.  This should return an
+error on failure.
+
+## Start
+`Start` will start a stopped instance.  This should ensure the instance is
+ready for operations such as SSH and Docker.  This should return an error on
+failure.
+
+## Stop
+`Stop` will stop a running instance.  This should ensure the instance is
+stopped and return an error on failure.
+
+## Kill
+`Kill` will forcibly stop a running instance.  This should ensure the instance
+is stopped and return an error on failure.
+
+## Restart
+`Restart` will restart a running instance.  This should ensure the instance
+is ready for operations such as SSH and Docker.  This should return an error
+on failure.
+
+## Status
+`Status` will return the state of the instance.  This should return the
+current state of the instance (running, stopped, error, etc).  This should
+return an error on failure.
+
+# Testing
+Testing is strongly recommended for drivers.  Unit tests are preferred as well
+as inclusion into the [integration tests](https://github.com/docker/machine#integration-tests).
+
+# Maintaining
+Driver contributors are strongly encouraged to maintain the driver to keep
+it supported.  We recommend and encourage contributors to join in the weekly
+meetings to give feedback and participate in the development around Machine.
+Driver maintainers will be notified and consulted for issues regarding their
+driver.
+
+# Third Party Libraries
+If you want to use a third party library to interact with the provider, you
+will need to make sure it is compliant with the Docker license terms (non-GPL).
+For more information, contact a project maintainer.
+