Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

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

vdir is the GNU coreutils directory lister, and it is not in the Solnix base system: install pkgs.solnix.coreutils to get it. The Solnix and Linux pages describe the same program with the same options, so a Linux user sees no behavioural difference. The bundle has no vdir page for FreeBSD, OpenBSD or NetBSD.

The manual pages

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

What Solnix runs

Not installed by default: add pkgs.solnix.coreutils. The header shows no other illumos variant of vdir. The published Solnix page is the GNU coreutils 9.7 (April 2025) page.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
all four	availability on a default system	A default Solnix system has no vdir on PATH. The command comes from pkgs.solnix.coreutils, so scripts that call vdir fail on a base install until that package is added. Source: Bundle header (command on PATH: none, install pkgs.solnix.coreutils); Solnix vdir(1) SYNOPSIS
Linux	same program as Linux	Solnix and Linux both document GNU coreutils vdir with the same synopsis, option set and exit statuses (0, 1, 2). The Solnix page is from coreutils 9.7. The Linux page is labelled coreutils-full-9.11 in the header. The only text difference found is wording for `--file-type`. Source: Solnix vdir(1) SYNOPSIS, OPTIONS, Exit status; Linux vdir(1) SYNOPSIS, OPTIONS; bundle header option lists
FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD	no BSD counterpart page	The bundle contains no vdir page for FreeBSD, OpenBSD or NetBSD, so the manual cannot say whether those systems have the command. Do not assume vdir exists there. Source: Bundle header (only a linux counterpart is listed)
Linux	`--file-type` wording	The Solnix page says `--file-type` is 'likewise' (it follows `-F`). The Linux page says 'like `-F`, except do not append '. Both pages describe the same behaviour of appending indicators except ''. Source: Solnix vdir(1) --file-type; Linux vdir(1) --file-type
Linux	color and LS_COLORS	On both Solnix and Linux, color is off by default. `--color=auto` emits color codes only when standard output is a terminal. The LS_COLORS variable changes the settings, and dircolors(1) sets it. Source: Solnix vdir(1) WHEN argument and color paragraph; Linux vdir(1) same paragraph
Linux	environment variables	The QUOTING_STYLE and TIME_STYLE environment variables apply to vdir on both systems. `--quoting-style` overrides QUOTING_STYLE, and TIME_STYLE sets the default time style. Source: Solnix vdir(1) --quoting-style, TIME_STYLE paragraph; Linux vdir(1) same entries

Standards

POSIX: vdir is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
Solnix: The Solnix page has no STANDARDS section and no interface stability statement.
Linux: The Linux vdir(1) text in the bundle has no STANDARDS section.

Writing portable scripts

vdir is not in POSIX.1-2024 and exists only where GNU coreutils is installed. For portable long listings, call ls -l rather than vdir.
On a Solnix host, check that vdir is present (pkgs.solnix.coreutils) before using it. Do not rely on it being in the base system.

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.