seq(1) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs
seq is not in the Solnix base system: install pkgs.solnix.coreutils to get the GNU coreutils seq, which matches Linux seq. The BSD versions differ: they default to %g, add a -t terminator option (FreeBSD, NetBSD), and use --fixed-width instead of --equal-width.
The manual pages
What Solnix runs
Not installed by default: add pkgs.solnix.coreutils. The published Solnix page is GNU coreutils seq (footer: GNU coreutils 9.7). The bundle shows no illumos seq page, so it does not say whether the base system has another seq.
Differences
| Compared with | Topic | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | same program as Linux | The Solnix page and the Linux page are the same GNU coreutils seq text: the same synopsis, -f, -s, -w, --help and --version, and the same default-format rule. The page text shows no behavioural difference.Source: Solnix seq(1) SYNOPSIS, DESCRIPTION; Linux seq(1) SYNOPSIS, DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | default increment when FIRST > LAST | On the BSDs, the default increment is -1 when first is larger than last. In GNU seq on Solnix, an omitted INCREMENT defaults to 1 even when LAST is smaller than FIRST, so `seq 5 1` prints nothing on Solnix. The BSD pages describe it printing a descending sequence.Source: Solnix seq(1) DESCRIPTION (omitted INCREMENT defaults to 1 even when LAST is smaller than FIRST); FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD seq(1) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | default number format | The BSDs default to %g. Solnix (GNU) defaults to %.PRECf when FIRST, INCREMENT and LAST are all fixed point decimals with maximum precision PREC, and to %g otherwise. Output for decimal steps like 0.5 can therefore differ in digits shown. Source: Solnix seq(1) DESCRIPTION (FORMAT default); FreeBSD seq(1) -f; OpenBSD seq(1) -f; NetBSD seq(1) -f |
| FreeBSD, NetBSD | -t terminator | FreeBSD and NetBSD have -t string to terminate the sequence. The Solnix page documents no -t, so scripts using it fail with GNU seq. Use -s plus a separate printf or echo for a trailing string.Source: FreeBSD seq(1) -t, --terminator; NetBSD seq(1) -t; Solnix seq(1) SYNOPSIS |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD | long name for -w | Solnix and Linux spell the long option --equal-width. FreeBSD and OpenBSD spell it --fixed-width. NetBSD documents no long options. The short -w is the same everywhere.Source: Solnix seq(1) -w, --equal-width; FreeBSD seq(1) -w, --fixed-width; OpenBSD seq(1) -w, --fixed-width; NetBSD seq(1) OPTIONS |
| NetBSD | no long options | NetBSD seq documents only the short options -f, -s, -t and -w. Solnix documents --format, --separator, --equal-width, --help and --version.Source: NetBSD seq(1) SYNOPSIS and options; Solnix seq(1) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | -w with -f | On the BSDs, -w has no effect when -f is given, and -w switches the default conversion to %e if any number prints in exponential notation. The Solnix page does not say how -w and -f interact.Source: FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD seq(1) -w; Solnix seq(1) -w |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | format conversions allowed | The BSD pages restrict -f to the A, a, E, e, F, f, G, g and % conversions and say escapes are processed. Solnix says only that FORMAT must suit one argument of type 'double'.Source: FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD seq(1) -f; Solnix seq(1) -f, DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, NetBSD | --help and --version | Solnix, Linux and OpenBSD document --help and --version. FreeBSD and NetBSD do not.Source: Solnix seq(1) --help, --version; OpenBSD seq(1) --help, --version; FreeBSD seq(1) SYNOPSIS; NetBSD seq(1) SYNOPSIS |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | exit status documented | The BSD pages state exit 0 on success and >0 on error. The Solnix page has no EXIT STATUS section. Source: FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD seq(1) EXIT STATUS; Solnix seq(1) |
Standards
- POSIX: seq is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
Writing portable scripts
- Always give both FIRST and an explicit INCREMENT (for example `seq 5
-11`) when counting down; do not rely on the default increment. - Use only
-f,-sand-w, and use the short option names. Avoid-tand long options, since they are not on every system. Install pkgs.solnix.coreutils on Solnix.
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.