Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

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

msgconv is the GNU gettext tool that converts a PO message catalog to another character encoding. It is not in the base Solnix system: install pkgs.solnix.gettext. It is the same program as on Linux (GNU gettext); the NetBSD page is an older gettext release that lacks --color, --style and the -n short option.

The manual pages

Solnix: msgconv(1) from pkgs.solnix.gettext
Linux: msgconv(1) gettext-1.0
NetBSD: msgconv(1) 11.0

What Solnix runs

Not installed by default: add pkgs.solnix.gettext. The published page is GNU gettext-tools 0.22.5 (February 2024). The bundle shows no illumos msgconv.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
Linux	same program	Solnix and Linux both document GNU gettext msgconv with the same synopsis and the same options. The Solnix page is from gettext-tools 0.22.5 and the Linux page from gettext-tools 1.0. The option lists match. Source: Solnix msgconv(1) SYNOPSIS, OPTIONS; Linux msgconv(1) SYNOPSIS, OPTIONS
NetBSD	`--color` and `--style` missing	Solnix msgconv has `--color`[=WHEN] (always, never, auto, html) and `--style=STYLEFILE` for CSS rules. The NetBSD page (gettext-tools 0.16.1) lists neither option, so a script that passes them fails there unless a newer gettext is installed. Source: Solnix msgconv(1) Output details (--color, --style); NetBSD msgconv(1) Output details
NetBSD	`-n` short option	On Solnix, `-n` is the short form of `--add-location`. The NetBSD page lists only the long form `--add-location`, with no `-n`. Source: Solnix msgconv(1) -n, --add-location; NetBSD msgconv(1) --add-location
NetBSD	gettext version	The NetBSD page is gettext-tools 0.16.1 (November 2006). The Solnix page is 0.22.5 (February 2024). Any behaviour added between those releases is not covered by the NetBSD text. Source: Solnix msgconv(1) footer; NetBSD msgconv(1) footer
FreeBSD, OpenBSD	no counterpart page	The bundle has no FreeBSD or OpenBSD msgconv page, so the manual cannot say whether those systems ship it. Treat it as an add-on from a gettext package. Source: Bundle header lists only Linux and NetBSD counterparts
Linux, NetBSD	default output encoding	On Solnix, Linux and NetBSD, without `-t`/-`-to-code` the output encoding is the current locale's encoding. A script run under a different locale can produce different output, so pass `-t` explicitly. Source: Solnix msgconv(1) Conversion target (-t); Linux msgconv(1) -t; NetBSD msgconv(1) -t

Standards

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

Writing portable scripts

Always pass -t NAME explicitly, since the default is the current locale's encoding.
Avoid --color, --style and -n if the script must run with the older gettext 0.16.1 documented for NetBSD; use --add-location, which that page lists.

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.