Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

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

ptx is not in the Solnix base system: it comes from pkgs.solnix.coreutils, the GNU coreutils ptx. The Solnix and Linux pages are nearly identical. The one documented difference is -t: Linux describes it as changing the default width from 72 to 100, and the Solnix page marks it 'not implemented'. The bundle has no BSD ptx page.

The manual pages

Solnix: ptx(1) from pkgs.solnix.coreutils
Linux: ptx(1) coreutils-full-9.11

What Solnix runs

Not installed by default: add pkgs.solnix.coreutils. The bundle lists no illumos variant of ptx. The Solnix page is footed 'GNU coreutils 9.7, April 2025'. The Linux page is from coreutils-full-9.11.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
Linux	same program	Solnix ptx (pkgs.solnix.coreutils) and Linux ptx are both GNU coreutils ptx. The two pages have the same synopsis and the same options, apart from the `-t` entry and the release. Source: Solnix ptx(1) SYNOPSIS, DESCRIPTION; Linux ptx(1) SYNOPSIS, DESCRIPTION
Linux	`-t`, `--typeset-mode`	The Solnix page marks `-t` as '- not implemented -'. The Linux page says `-t` changes the default width from 72 to 100. A script that uses `-t` to get width 100 should pass `-w` 100 on Solnix, since the Solnix page documents no effect for `-t`. Source: Solnix ptx(1) -t, --typeset-mode; Linux ptx(1) -t, --typeset-mode; -w, --width
Linux	release documented	The Solnix page is from GNU coreutils 9.7. The Linux page is from coreutils-full-9.11. The bundle shows no other option differences between the two, but the Solnix text is the older release. Source: Solnix ptx(1) footer line (GNU coreutils 9.7, April 2025); Linux ptx(1) bundle header (coreutils-full-9.11)
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	no BSD counterpart	The bundle contains no FreeBSD, OpenBSD or NetBSD ptx page. The manual text given here does not say whether those systems ship ptx or how it behaves. Do not assume it is present. Source: Bundle header: only a linux counterpart is listed
all four	not in the Solnix base system	On a default Solnix system there is no ptx on PATH. Install pkgs.solnix.coreutils to get it. Source: Bundle header: 'On a default Solnix system the command on PATH is: none: install pkgs.solnix.coreutils'
Linux	`-G` System V mode	Both pages document `-G` (`--traditional`) as behaving more like System V ptx, and as using the synopsis ptx `-G` [OPTION]... [INPUT [OUTPUT]], which accepts an OUTPUT file. Without `-G`, only INPUT files are accepted. Source: Solnix ptx(1) SYNOPSIS, -G; Linux ptx(1) SYNOPSIS, -G

Standards

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

Writing portable scripts

Do not rely on -t. Solnix marks it not implemented. Set the output width explicitly with -w NUMBER instead.
Check that ptx exists before calling it. It is not in the Solnix base system, and the bundle does not show it on the BSDs.

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.