Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

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

On Solnix, soelim is the illumos /usr/bin/soelim. It takes only file names and has no options. FreeBSD soelim adds -I (search directories), -C, and three do-nothing compatibility flags (-r, -t, -v). The Linux page in the bundle is empty, so no Linux comparison is possible.

The manual pages

Solnix: soelim(1) from pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man · illumos.org
Linux: soelim(1) groff-1.24.2
FreeBSD: soelim(1) 15.1-RELEASE

What Solnix runs

A default Solnix system runs the illumos soelim at /usr/bin/soelim. No other variants are shipped. The page is published by pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man and is dated September 14, 1992.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
FreeBSD	options accepted	Solnix soelim takes only file names: the synopsis is soelim [filename]... . FreeBSD soelim accepts `-C`, `-r`, `-t`, `-v` and `-I` dir. A script that passes any of these works on FreeBSD but is not supported by the Solnix synopsis. Source: Solnix soelim(1) SYNOPSIS; FreeBSD soelim(1) SYNOPSIS, -C, -r, -t, -v, -I
FreeBSD	include search path (`-I`)	FreeBSD `-I` dir adds directories to search for command-line files and .so targets, always after the current directory. Absolute paths are opened directly. The Solnix page documents no search path and no `-I`. Source: FreeBSD soelim(1) -I dir and the following paragraphs; Solnix soelim(1) DESCRIPTION
FreeBSD	.so without a following space	FreeBSD `-C` makes soelim recognise .so even when no space follows it. The Solnix page shows only the form '.so somefile' and has no equivalent option. Source: FreeBSD soelim(1) -C; Solnix soelim(1) DESCRIPTION
FreeBSD	`-r`, `-t`, `-v`	On FreeBSD these flags are accepted for groff compatibility and do nothing. Solnix lists no options, so the page gives no basis to assume it accepts them. Source: FreeBSD soelim(1) -r, -t, -v; Solnix soelim(1) SYNOPSIS
FreeBSD	suppressing inclusion	The Solnix page documents that starting the line with a single quote instead of a dot (' so file) suppresses inclusion. The FreeBSD page does not mention this. Source: Solnix soelim(1) DESCRIPTION (single quote); FreeBSD soelim(1) DESCRIPTION
FreeBSD	standard input as an argument	The Solnix page says a special argument (garbled in the bundle text, presumably a minus sign) is taken as standard input. The FreeBSD page says only that standard input is read, and documents no such argument. Source: Solnix soelim(1) DESCRIPTION; FreeBSD soelim(1) DESCRIPTION
Linux	no Linux page in the bundle	The Linux soelim(1) section (groff 1.24.2) is empty in the bundle. The manual text supplied does not say how Linux soelim differs from Solnix, so no Linux claim is made here. Source: Bundle section LINUX: soelim(1) is empty

Standards

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

Writing portable scripts

Call soelim with file names only and no options: Solnix documents none, and FreeBSD's -r, -t and -v do nothing.
Do not rely on -I search directories. Use paths that resolve from the current directory, or absolute paths, in both the command line and the .so lines.

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.