refer(1) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs
On Solnix, refer is the illumos refer at /usr/bin/refer, a preprocessor that replaces .[ and .] reference blocks for nroff or troff using a bibliographic database. The bundle has no usable Linux page text and no BSD pages, so no flag-by-flag comparison can be supported.
The manual pages
- Solnix: refer(1) from
pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man· illumos.org - Linux: refer(1) groff-1.24.2
What Solnix runs
A default Solnix system runs the illumos refer at /usr/bin/refer, published in pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man. No other variants are shipped. The page's SEE ALSO lists addbib(1), indxbib(1), lookbib(1), roffbib(1) and sortbib(1), but the bundle does not say whether they are installed.
Differences
| Compared with | Topic | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux page text missing | The Linux refer(1) section (groff-1.24.2) contains only an error message, and no option flags were extracted for it. Any difference in options, defaults or output between Solnix and Linux refer is therefore not documented here. Source: Bundle header (linux refer: no flags); LINUX refer(1) section of the bundle |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | no BSD counterpart supplied | The bundle lists no FreeBSD, OpenBSD or NetBSD refer page. The manual does not say whether these systems ship refer or how it behaves there. Source: Bundle header (COUNTERPART lines list only linux) |
| Linux | Solnix option set | The Solnix page documents -b, -e, -n, -a, -c, -k, -l, -p and -s. Whether Linux refer accepts the same options, or gives them the same meaning, cannot be checked from the bundle.Source: Solnix refer(1) SYNOPSIS and OPTIONS; LINUX refer(1) section of the bundle |
Standards
- POSIX: refer is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
- Solnix: The page refers to attributes(7) in SEE ALSO, but the bundle text gives no interface stability statement.
Writing portable scripts
- Check the target system's refer(1) page before using any option beyond plain .[ and .] processing, since the bundle cannot confirm that Linux or the BSDs accept the Solnix options.
- Run refer first in a pipeline that also uses eqn or tbl, as the Solnix page advises, to minimise data passed through pipes.
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.