xzdec(1) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs
xzdec is the xz project's decompression-only tool for .xz files (lzmadec does the same for .lzma). It is not in the Solnix base system; install pkgs.solnix.xz. The Solnix, Linux and FreeBSD pages are word-for-word the same, so there are no behavioural differences between them.
The manual pages
What Solnix runs
Not installed by default: add pkgs.solnix.xz. The bundle shows no illumos variant of xzdec and no other variants shipped. The published page is the xz project's xzdec(1) dated 2024-04-08.
Differences
| Compared with | Topic | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Linux, FreeBSD | same program and documentation | The Solnix, Linux (xz-5.8.4) and FreeBSD 15.1 pages have identical text, options, exit status and notes. The extracted option lists are identical. Expect the same behaviour, subject to the installed xz version. Source: Solnix, Linux and FreeBSD xzdec(1) SYNOPSIS, OPTIONS, EXIT STATUS |
| all four | availability | On Solnix, xzdec is absent from the base system and must be installed from pkgs.solnix.xz. The bundle does not say whether the Linux or FreeBSD systems install it by default. Source: Solnix bundle header (none: install pkgs.solnix.xz); Linux and FreeBSD xzdec(1) pages |
| OpenBSD, NetBSD | no counterpart page | The bundle has no OpenBSD or NetBSD xzdec(1) page, so nothing can be said about xzdec on those systems. Source: Bundle header lists only linux and freebsd counterparts |
| Linux, FreeBSD | options ignored | -d, -k, -c and -Q are accepted but ignored, for xz(1) compatibility. xzdec always decompresses to standard output and never creates or removes files, so xz-style scripts that rely on in-place decompression will not get it. The same holds on all three systems.Source: Solnix xzdec(1) -d, -k, -c, -Q; Linux xzdec(1) -d, -k, -c, -Q; FreeBSD xzdec(1) -d, -k, -c, -Q |
| Linux, FreeBSD | environment and signals | xzdec ignores XZ_DEFAULTS and XZ_OPT, and has no multithreading or localization. SIGINFO does nothing and SIGUSR1 terminates the process. Behaviour is the same on Solnix, Linux and FreeBSD. Source: Solnix xzdec(1) DESCRIPTION; Linux xzdec(1) DESCRIPTION; FreeBSD xzdec(1) DESCRIPTION |
| Linux, FreeBSD | exit status | xzdec exits 0 on success and 1 on error. It never exits 2, because it has no warnings. A script written for xz that tests for status 2 will never see it from xzdec. Source: Solnix xzdec(1) EXIT STATUS; Linux xzdec(1) EXIT STATUS; FreeBSD xzdec(1) EXIT STATUS |
Standards
- POSIX: xzdec is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
Writing portable scripts
- Call xzdec as xzdec [file...] with no options other than
-q,-hor-V, and do not rely on XZ_OPT or XZ_DEFAULTS. Check for exit status 1 only. - Check that xzdec is on PATH before using it: on Solnix it needs pkgs.solnix.xz.
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.