Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

`base32(1)` on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs

base32 is not in the Solnix base system: install pkgs.solnix.coreutils to get the GNU coreutils base32. Its synopsis and options are identical to the Linux base32 page, so Linux scripts should behave the same. The bundle has no BSD counterpart page.

The manual pages

Solnix: base32(1) from pkgs.solnix.coreutils
Linux: base32(1) coreutils-full-9.11

What Solnix runs

Not installed by default: add pkgs.solnix.coreutils. The bundle shows no illumos variant of base32. The Solnix page is from GNU coreutils 9.7 (April 2025).

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
Linux	same program	The Solnix page and the Linux page describe the same GNU coreutils base32. The synopsis is base32 [OPTION]... [FILE], and the options are `-d`/-`-decode`, `-i`/-`-ignore-garbage`, `-w`/-`-wrap=COLS`, `--help` and `--version`. The option descriptions match. Source: Solnix base32(1) SYNOPSIS, DESCRIPTION; Linux base32(1) SYNOPSIS, DESCRIPTION
Linux	coreutils version	The Solnix page is footed GNU coreutils 9.7. The Linux page in the bundle is from coreutils-full-9.11. The option lists match, so the manuals show no behaviour difference between the two versions. Source: Solnix base32(1) footer (GNU coreutils 9.7, April 2025); header COUNTERPART linux (coreutils-full-9.11)
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	no counterpart page	The bundle contains no FreeBSD, OpenBSD or NetBSD base32 page. The manuals provided do not show whether those systems have base32, or what options it takes, so do not assume it is present there. Source: Bundle header lists only a linux counterpart for base32(1)
Linux	not in the base system	A default Solnix system has no base32 on PATH. You must install pkgs.solnix.coreutils first. A script that runs base32 will fail with command not found on a default Solnix install. Source: Header: On a default Solnix system the command on PATH is: none: install pkgs.solnix.coreutils
Linux	line wrapping default	On both Solnix and Linux, encoded output is wrapped after 76 characters by default. `-w` 0 disables wrapping. When decoding, newlines are accepted in the input in addition to the base32 alphabet. Source: Solnix base32(1) -w, --wrap; Linux base32(1) -w, --wrap

Standards

POSIX: base32 is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
Solnix: The page says data are encoded as described for the base32 alphabet in RFC 4648.
Linux: The page says data are encoded as described for the base32 alphabet in RFC 4648.

Writing portable scripts

Do not assume base32 exists: it is not POSIX and not in the Solnix base system. Check with command -v base32 first, and install pkgs.solnix.coreutils on Solnix.
Pass -w 0 explicitly when you need output on one line, and use -d to decode, rather than relying on the 76-column default.

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.