yes(1) on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs
On Solnix, yes is the illumos yes at /usr/bin/yes. It repeats y, or the given arguments joined by spaces, until interrupted. It takes no options, whereas Linux coreutils yes also accepts --help and --version.
The manual pages
What Solnix runs
A default Solnix system runs the illumos yes at /usr/bin/yes. No other variants are shipped. The Solnix page is dated December 20, 2006 and is short; it refers to attributes(7) but the bundle does not include that text.
Differences
| Compared with | Topic | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | --help and --version | Linux (coreutils) yes documents --help and --version. The Solnix page documents no options, so the manual gives no basis for expecting either flag to work.Source: Linux yes(1) SYNOPSIS (yes OPTION), --help, --version; Solnix yes(1) SYNOPSIS |
| OpenBSD, NetBSD | multiple arguments | Solnix yes joins multiple arguments with spaces and ends the line with a NEWLINE. The OpenBSD and NetBSD synopses show a single optional expletive, and their pages say nothing about multiple arguments. Source: Solnix yes(1) DESCRIPTION; OpenBSD yes(1) SYNOPSIS; NetBSD yes(1) SYNOPSIS |
| Linux, FreeBSD | multiple arguments | Solnix, Linux and FreeBSD all accept several arguments and print them as one space-separated line. The Solnix and FreeBSD pages say the arguments are separated or concatenated by spaces. Source: Solnix yes(1) DESCRIPTION; Linux yes(1) DESCRIPTION; FreeBSD yes(1) DESCRIPTION |
| FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD | how the output ends | Solnix and Linux describe the output as lines. Solnix says y or term is followed by a NEWLINE. The BSD pages say 'forever' and do not mention the newline. Source: Solnix yes(1) DESCRIPTION; Linux yes(1) DESCRIPTION; FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD yes(1) DESCRIPTION |
| Linux | how it is stopped | Solnix says to stop yes by issuing an interrupt character. The Linux page says it runs until killed. Neither page documents an exit status. Source: Solnix yes(1) DESCRIPTION; Linux yes(1) NAME |
Standards
- POSIX: yes is not a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
- FreeBSD: HISTORY: the yes command appeared in Version 7 AT&T UNIX.
- OpenBSD: HISTORY: the yes command appeared in Version 7 AT&T UNIX.
- NetBSD: HISTORY: the yes command appeared in Version 7 AT&T UNIX.
Writing portable scripts
- Pass at most one argument, or none, and do not use options. This works the same on Solnix, Linux and the BSDs;
--helpand--versionexist only on Linux coreutils. - Since yes is not POSIX, in scripts where it may be missing use a shell loop (while :; do echo y; done) instead.
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.