Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

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

readlink is not in the Solnix base system: install pkgs.solnix.coreutils to get GNU coreutils readlink. It is the same program as Linux readlink, with -e, -m, -z and long options that the BSD pages do not document.

The manual pages

Solnix: readlink(1) from pkgs.solnix.coreutils
Linux: readlink(1) coreutils-full-9.11
FreeBSD: readlink(1) 15.1-RELEASE
OpenBSD: readlink(1) 8.0
NetBSD: readlink(1) 11.0
Standard: POSIX.1-2024 (IEEE Std 1003.1-2024), readlink

What Solnix runs

Not installed by default: add pkgs.solnix.coreutils. The published page is GNU coreutils 9.7, and no other illumos variants are shipped. The page itself says realpath(1) is a better command for canonicalization.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
Linux	same program	Solnix and Linux both document GNU coreutils readlink with the same synopsis and option set (`-f`, `-e`, `-m`, `-n`, `-q`, `-s`, `-v`, `-z`, `--help`, `--version`). The Solnix page is from coreutils 9.7 and the Linux page from coreutils-full 9.11. Source: Solnix readlink(1) SYNOPSIS and DESCRIPTION; Linux readlink(1) SYNOPSIS and DESCRIPTION
Linux	POSIXLY_CORRECT and `-s`/-v defaults	The Linux page says `-s` is on by default if POSIXLY_CORRECT is not set, and `-v` is on by default if it is set. The Solnix page says only that `-s` is on by default and does not mention POSIXLY_CORRECT. Source: Linux readlink(1) -s, -v; Solnix readlink(1) -s, -v
all four	not in base system	A default Solnix system has no readlink on PATH. Install pkgs.solnix.coreutils before running scripts that call it. Source: Solnix bundle header (command on PATH: none: install pkgs.solnix.coreutils)
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-e` and `-m`	Solnix readlink has `-e` (all components must exist) and `-m` (no requirement that components exist). The FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD pages document only `-f` for canonicalization. Source: Solnix readlink(1) -e, -m; FreeBSD readlink(1) SYNOPSIS; OpenBSD readlink(1) -f; NetBSD readlink(1) -f
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-f` existence rule	Solnix `-f` requires every component except the last to exist. The BSD pages say `-f` follows every symlink in every component and returns an absolute path, and they state no such existence rule. NetBSD adds only that it returns the absolute path 'if possible'. Source: Solnix readlink(1) -f; FreeBSD readlink(1) DESCRIPTION; OpenBSD readlink(1) -f; NetBSD readlink(1) DESCRIPTION
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	`-z` and long options	Solnix has `-z`, which ends each output line with NUL, and long options such as `--canonicalize` and `--no-newline`. The BSD pages document neither. With `-z`, `-n` omits the trailing NUL instead of a newline. Source: Solnix readlink(1) -z, -n, --canonicalize; FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD readlink(1) OPTIONS
OpenBSD	number of arguments	Solnix takes one or more files (readlink [OPTION]... FILE...). The OpenBSD synopsis is readlink [`-fn`] file, a single file. NetBSD documents file ...; FreeBSD documents [file ...]. Source: Solnix readlink(1) SYNOPSIS; OpenBSD readlink(1) SYNOPSIS; NetBSD readlink(1) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD readlink(1) SYNOPSIS
OpenBSD	`-q`, `-s`, `-v`	Solnix accepts `-q`, `-s` and `-v`. The OpenBSD page documents only `-f` and `-n`, so a script using the other three options is not covered there. Source: Solnix readlink(1) -q, -s, -v; OpenBSD readlink(1) SYNOPSIS and OPTIONS
NetBSD	quiet mode and POSIXLY_CORRECT	NetBSD `-q` is the default and `-v` turns quiet off. Setting POSIXLY_CORRECT makes `-v` the default. Solnix documents `-s` as on by default and does not describe any POSIXLY_CORRECT effect. Source: NetBSD readlink(1) -q, -s, -v, ENVIRONMENT; Solnix readlink(1) -s, -v
FreeBSD	readlink is part of stat(1)	On FreeBSD the page is stat(1), and readlink is stat invoked under another name. Its readlink synopsis is [`-fn`]. The page says error messages are suppressed automatically when run as readlink. The other stat options are not part of that synopsis. Source: FreeBSD readlink(1) NAME, SYNOPSIS, -q
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	exit status documentation	The Solnix page has no EXIT STATUS section. OpenBSD documents 0 on success and >0 on error. NetBSD documents exit 1 for a usage error, a missing file, or a non-symlink without `-f`; otherwise 0. Source: Solnix readlink(1) (no EXIT STATUS section); OpenBSD readlink(1) EXIT STATUS; NetBSD readlink(1) EXIT STATUS

Standards

POSIX: readlink is a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
NetBSD: readlink is expected to conform to, provided it is run with POSIXLY_CORRECT set in its environment.
Solnix: The Solnix page has no STANDARDS section.

Writing portable scripts

Use only readlink -f and -n, with one file per call. -e, -m, -z, -q, -s, -v and long options are missing from the OpenBSD page, and from the FreeBSD readlink synopsis where noted above.
Check the exit status instead of relying on error messages. The -q/-s/-v defaults are documented differently on Solnix, Linux and NetBSD.

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.