( I just can't believe that this happens again ) This example text won't sort as expected: ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/crtn.o ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/ldscripts/elf_i386.x ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/ld-linux.so.1 ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/libBrokenLocale.so.1 ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/ld.so ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/libc-2.1.3.so It is sorted this way by textutils-2.0e-8 (and 2.0e-6) ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/crtn.o ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/ld-linux.so.1 ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/ldscripts/elf_i386.x ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/ld.so ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/libBrokenLocale.so.1 ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/libc-2.1.3.so And here is what Slackware 3.1, Solaris 2.51, Solaris 8 and RHL-62 (with textutils-2.0a-2) thinks it should be: ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/crtn.o ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/ld-linux.so.1 ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/ld.so ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/ldscripts/elf_i386.x ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/libBrokenLocale.so.1 ./i486-unknown-linux-gnu/lib/libc-2.1.3.so
Because of the locale support, you need to set LC_ALL="C" or LC_COLLATE="C" before sorting. Then your sort will come out in the expected fashion.
Closing as NOTABUG.
I think that default behaviour should be same as if LC_ALL or LC_COLLATE is set to "C" !! Anyway, environment (locale)variables should have always some reasonable "internal" defaults, if these variables are left unset externally. BTW. sort "works" on Solaris even if there isn't any locale-variable set.