Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

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

numfmt is not in the Solnix base system; it comes from GNU coreutils in pkgs.solnix.coreutils. The Solnix page is GNU coreutils 9.7 and matches the Linux page except that the Solnix page does not document --unit-separator. The bundle has no FreeBSD, OpenBSD or NetBSD counterpart.

The manual pages

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

What Solnix runs

Not installed by default: add pkgs.solnix.coreutils. The bundle shows no illumos numfmt, so no other variant is described.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
Linux	same program	Solnix and Linux both document GNU coreutils numfmt, with the same synopsis and nearly identical option lists, UNIT values, FIELDS syntax, FORMAT rules and exit status text. The Solnix page is dated GNU coreutils 9.7; the Linux counterpart is coreutils-full-9.11. Source: Solnix numfmt(1) SYNOPSIS, OPTIONS; Linux numfmt(1) SYNOPSIS, OPTIONS
Linux	`--unit-separator`	The Linux page documents `--unit-separator=SEP`, which inserts SEP between number and unit on output and accepts an optional SEP on input. The Solnix page does not list it, so the manual does not say whether the installed Solnix build accepts it. Source: Linux numfmt(1) --unit-separator; Solnix numfmt(1) OPTIONS (not listed)
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	command availability	The bundle has no numfmt page for FreeBSD, OpenBSD or NetBSD, so the manual cannot confirm numfmt exists there. A script that calls numfmt needs a check that it is installed. Source: Bundle header: only a linux counterpart is listed
Linux	not in the base system	Solnix has no numfmt on PATH by default, and you must install pkgs.solnix.coreutils first. The Linux page documents numfmt as a coreutils command. Source: Solnix bundle header (command on PATH: none: install pkgs.solnix.coreutils); Linux numfmt(1) SEE ALSO
Linux	exit status and `--invalid`	Both pages say the default `--invalid=abort` stops at the first conversion error with exit status 2. fail prints a warning for each error and exits 2. warn diagnoses each error and exits 0. ignore diagnoses nothing and exits 0. Source: Solnix numfmt(1) --invalid and exit status paragraph; Linux numfmt(1) same

Standards

POSIX: numfmt is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.

Writing portable scripts

Check that numfmt exists before using it (command -v numfmt). It is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility, and on Solnix it needs pkgs.solnix.coreutils.
Do not use --unit-separator in scripts meant for Solnix: only the Linux page documents it.

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.