glob(1) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs
On Solnix, glob is a csh built-in from illumos, not a separate binary. It expands filenames like echo(1) but writes the words separated by null characters. FreeBSD has no glob(1) page of its own: the page is an index of shell built-ins, and it lists glob as a csh-only built-in.
The manual pages
- Solnix: glob(1) from
pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man· illumos.org - FreeBSD: glob(1) 15.1-RELEASE
What Solnix runs
glob is a shell built-in, not a file on PATH. The Solnix page documents it only under csh. The bundle shows no glob in sh or ksh93, although the header lists those shells as possible hosts. No other variants are shipped.
Differences
| Compared with | Topic | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| FreeBSD | page content | The FreeBSD glob(1) page is the builtin(1) index of shell built-ins and keybindings, not a description of glob. It gives no semantics, so the null-delimited output cannot be compared from the manual. Source: FreeBSD glob(1) NAME (builtin, keybinds), DESCRIPTION; Solnix glob(1) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD | which shells have glob | The FreeBSD table lists glob as a csh(1) built-in and not an sh(1) built-in. It is not standalone. Solnix documents glob only in the csh section. Both systems treat it as a csh feature. Source: FreeBSD glob(1) Commands table (glob: Standalone No, csh Yes, sh No); Solnix glob(1) SYNOPSIS (csh) |
| FreeBSD | output delimiter | Solnix csh glob separates output words with null characters and recognizes no backslash escapes. The FreeBSD page does not say what glob outputs, so the manual shows no basis for assuming the same delimiter. Source: Solnix glob(1) DESCRIPTION; FreeBSD glob(1) (no glob description) |
| Linux, OpenBSD, NetBSD | no counterpart page | The bundle has no glob(1) page for Linux, OpenBSD or NetBSD, so nothing in it supports a comparison with those systems. Source: Bundle header (only a FreeBSD counterpart is listed) |
Standards
- POSIX: glob is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
- Solnix: The Solnix page has no STANDARDS section and the bundle shows no ATTRIBUTES or interface stability entry for it. It lists attributes(7) under SEE ALSO.
- FreeBSD: The FreeBSD builtin index page in the bundle has no standards statement for glob.
Writing portable scripts
- Do not use glob in scripts meant for sh. The FreeBSD table lists it as csh-only, and the Solnix page documents it only under csh.
- If a script needs null-delimited filename lists, do not rely on glob. Only the Solnix page documents that output, and the FreeBSD page does not describe glob.
Every difference here is taken from the manual pages linked above: Solnix's published page, Linux (man-pages and the GNU and util-linux manuals), FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD. Each row names its source. Where a manual is silent, this page is too. Compiled 2026-10-26. Found a mistake? Mail hackers@lists.solnix.io.