Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

`less(1)` on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs

Solnix ships a less whose manual matches Linux less-692 and FreeBSD 15.1 almost word for word, and it is the command on PATH. The differences that matter are against OpenBSD and NetBSD: OpenBSD reverses the meaning of -c, and OpenBSD and NetBSD lack the newer colour and display options.

The manual pages

Solnix: less(1) from pkgs.solnix.less
Linux: less(1) less-692
FreeBSD: less(1) 15.1-RELEASE
OpenBSD: less(1) 8.0
NetBSD: less(1) 11.0

What Solnix runs

A default Solnix system runs less from the base system packages (published as pkgs.solnix.less). No other variants are shipped. The package is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
Linux, FreeBSD	same program as Linux and FreeBSD	The Solnix less(1) text is essentially the same as the Linux (less-692) and FreeBSD 15.1 pages. They share the same LESS variable handling, long option names and `-D` colour syntax. Expect the same behaviour for these. Source: Solnix, Linux and FreeBSD less(1) DESCRIPTION and OPTIONS; header option lists
OpenBSD	`-c` meaning (opposite default)	On Solnix, Linux, FreeBSD and NetBSD, `-c` paints full repaints from the top line down, and the default is scrolling from the bottom. OpenBSD says the reverse: `-c` paints from the bottom, and the default is top line down. Source: Solnix less(1) -c; Linux less(1) -c; FreeBSD less(1) -c; NetBSD less(1) -c; OpenBSD less(1) -c
OpenBSD, NetBSD	colour options	Solnix has `-Dxcolor` / `--color=xcolor` to colour text parts and `--use-color` to enable the uppercase letters. NetBSD's `-D` is marked [MS-DOS only]. OpenBSD's option list has no `--color`, `--use-color` or `-D`. Source: Solnix less(1) -D; NetBSD less(1) -D ([MS-DOS only]); OpenBSD less(1) option list and header flags
OpenBSD, NetBSD	newer long options missing	Solnix lists `--header`, `--mouse`, `--modelines`, `--incsearch`, `--wordwrap`, `--status-line` and `--no-paste`. Neither the OpenBSD nor the NetBSD option list contains them. Do not rely on them in scripts or LESS settings that must also run on those systems. Source: Header OPTION FLAGS for solnix, openbsd and netbsd
Linux, FreeBSD	`--autosave` and `--cmd`	Linux and FreeBSD list `--autosave` and `--cmd`. The option list extracted from the Solnix page does not include them. Source: Header OPTION FLAGS for linux less, freebsd less and solnix
Linux, FreeBSD	synopsis forms	The Linux and FreeBSD synopses show `-D` color, `-lines` and -"cc. The Solnix synopsis does not list them, but its OPTIONS section still documents `-Dxcolor`. The Solnix synopsis also writes `-b` space where Linux writes `-b` size. Source: Solnix less(1) SYNOPSIS and -D; Linux less(1) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD less(1) SYNOPSIS
OpenBSD	behaving like more	OpenBSD less behaves like more(1) if invoked as more or if LESS_IS_MORE is set, and has a COMPATIBILITY WITH MORE section. The Solnix text shown in the bundle does not describe this. Source: OpenBSD less(1) DESCRIPTION (LESS_IS_MORE); Solnix less(1) DESCRIPTION
NetBSD	`-D` on non-DOS systems	NetBSD's LESS example for "$"`-terminated` option strings uses MS-DOS `-D` colour settings (LESS="Dn9.1$Ds4.1"). Solnix's example sets `-D` text attributes (LESS="Dnwb$Dsbw"). The $ terminator rule is the same on both. Source: NetBSD less(1) OPTIONS; Solnix less(1) OPTIONS

Standards

POSIX: less is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.

Writing portable scripts

Use only options common to all four option lists (for example -i, -F, -R, -S, -X, -N) and avoid -c, -D, --color and --use-color in shared scripts or LESS settings.
Do not assume newer long options such as --mouse, --header or --incsearch exist on OpenBSD or NetBSD.

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.