zless(1) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs
zless is not in the Solnix base system; it comes from the gzip package (pkgs.solnix.gzip) and is the same page as Linux gzip-1.14 zless. It takes only file names and cannot read compressed data from a pipe. FreeBSD and NetBSD zless does read standard input and passes flags to the pager.
The manual pages
What Solnix runs
Not installed by default: add pkgs.solnix.gzip. The bundle lists no other illumos variants. The Solnix page text matches the Linux gzip-1.14 page.
Differences
| Compared with | Topic | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | same program | The Solnix and Linux zless pages are identical in synopsis, description and BUGS. Both describe zless as setting LESSOPEN to '|gzip -cdfq -- %s' and LESSMETACHARS, then running less.Source: Solnix zless(1) DESCRIPTION, BUGS; Linux zless(1) DESCRIPTION, BUGS |
| FreeBSD, NetBSD | standard input | On Solnix (and Linux) zless does not work with compressed data on standard input; files must be given as arguments. FreeBSD and NetBSD zmore reads standard input when no files are given, assuming gzip(1) compression. The page documents this for zmore; zless is said to be equivalent. Source: Solnix zless(1) BUGS; FreeBSD zless(1) DESCRIPTION; NetBSD zless(1) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, NetBSD | flags | Solnix zless accepts only file names: the synopsis is zless [ name ... ]. FreeBSD and NetBSD zless takes [flags] and passes them to the pager. The Solnix page documents no flag passing. Source: Solnix zless(1) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD zless(1) SYNOPSIS, DESCRIPTION; NetBSD zless(1) SYNOPSIS, DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, NetBSD | pager selection and PAGER | FreeBSD and NetBSD zless uses the PAGER environment variable, defaulting to /usr/bin/less for zless. The Solnix page describes zless as running less with LESSOPEN set and documents no PAGER variable.Source: FreeBSD zless(1) ENVIRONMENT; NetBSD zless(1) ENVIRONMENT; Solnix zless(1) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, NetBSD | supported compression formats | FreeBSD and NetBSD zless documents both compress(1) (.Z) and gzip(1) (.gz) formats. The Solnix page only names gzip -cdfq as the decompressor and does not mention compress formats.Source: FreeBSD zless(1) DESCRIPTION; NetBSD zless(1) DESCRIPTION; Solnix zless(1) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, NetBSD | multi-file prompt | FreeBSD and NetBSD zmore pauses between files with a 'prev_file (END) - Next: next_file' prompt, with e/q to quit and s to skip. The Solnix page describes no such prompt; multi-file handling is left to less. Source: FreeBSD zless(1) DESCRIPTION; NetBSD zless(1) DESCRIPTION; Solnix zless(1) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, NetBSD | shared page with zmore | The BSD page documents zmore and zless together. The Solnix zless page covers zless only and refers to zmore(1) in SEE ALSO. Source: FreeBSD zless(1) NAME; NetBSD zless(1) NAME; Solnix zless(1) SEE ALSO |
Standards
- POSIX: zless is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
Writing portable scripts
- For compressed data from a pipe, use ...|gunzip|less; Solnix and Linux zless cannot read it from standard input.
- Pass file names only and no pager flags to zless in portable scripts; the Solnix page documents neither flags nor PAGER.
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.