Busybox identification

[Michael D. Setzer II]

On 8 Apr 2026 at 23:21, Tim Tassonis via busybox wrote:

Date sent:      	Wed, 8 Apr 2026 23:21:41 +0200
Subject:        	Re: Busybox identification
To:             	busybox at busybox.net
From:           	Tim Tassonis via busybox 
<busybox at busybox.net>
Send reply to:  	Tim Tassonis <stuff at decentral.ch>

> 
> 
> On 3/25/26 15:30, Nigel Hopper via busybox wrote:
> > Hi Jody
> > 
> > I understand that it is not an OS as I mentioned in my original email. 
> > But we need a unique way of identifying if Busybox is installed.
> > 
> > Since it is not an OS and does not use the os-release file, is there a 
> > way to uniquely identify if Busybox is installed and what version that 
> > might be?
> 
> echo `which busybox` && busybox |head -1
> 
> gives you
> 
> /bin/busybox
> BusyBox v1.37.0 (2026-03-17 01:17:56 CET) multi-call binary.
> 

Big Question? What exactly does the date in that line mean?
1.37 in downloads shows 
Busybox-1.37.0.tar.bz2  2024-09-26 21:31  2.4M  
Top of web page shows
27 September 2024 -- BusyBox 1.37.0 (unstable)

Just did a test on my machine.

Did test on the version I had.
$ busybox | head -n 1
BusyBox v1.38.0.git (2026-04-07 14:26:44 ChST) multi-call binary.

Recompiled the busybox and get.
$ busybox | head -n 1
BusyBox v1.38.0.git (2026-04-09 08:09:23 ChST) multi-call binary.

So that date seems to be the time that the code was last updated.

The snapshot dates show?
busybox-20260408.tar..> 2026-04-08 00:20  2.5M  
busybox-snapshot.tar..> 2026-04-08 00:20  2.5M  

At moment git pull is working
git pull
Already up to date.

But earlier was get no response timeout

Not sure why the page has no mention of the 1.38
So looks like the main page info is not current?

> 
> 
> as output. You're welcome. I suggest to watch/read some kind of "UNIX 
> commandline for beginners" tutorial, this is really basic knowledge you 
> should acquire in order to do your job properly.
> 
> This question has nothing at all to with busybox.
> 
> Bye
> Tim
> 
> 
> 
> > 
> > Very much keeping my fingers crossed that there is!
> > 
> > 
> > Kind regards,
> > 
> > **
> > 
> > *Nigel Hopper*
> > Security Consultant: Cybersecurity Assessment & Response Services
> > Open Source Software Auditor
> > 
> > Advisory Software Engineer
> > QSE Development Top Gun
> > 
> > *My working week is Tuesday to Friday.*
> > 
> > signature_1589533700
> > 
> > **
> > 
> > *Phone: *Office_+44 (0) 1962815065 <tel:+441962815065>_
> > 
> > *Phone: *Mobile_+44 (0) 7772 808235 <tel:+447772808235>_
> > 
> > *E-mail: *_nigel_hopper at uk.ibm.com <mailto:nigel_hopper at uk.ibm.com>_
> > 
> > *Security and Legal Scanning Services*
> > 
> > *IBM UK Ltd, Mail Point 168, Hursley Park,
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> > 
> > "One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who only 
> > have interest."
> > "What distinguishes the majority of men from the few is their inability 
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> > 
> > IBM United Kingdom Limited
> > 
> > Registered in England and Wales with number 741598
> > 
> > Registered office: Building C, IBM Hursley Office, Hursley Park Road, 
> > Winchester, Hampshire SO21 2JN
> > 
> > 
> > *From: *Jody Bruchon <jody at jodybruchon.com>
> > *Date: *Wednesday, 25 March 2026 at 13:49
> > *To: *Nigel Hopper <nigel_hopper at uk.ibm.com>, busybox at busybox.net 
> > <busybox at busybox.net>
> > *Subject: *[EXTERNAL] Re: Busybox identification
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > On March 25, 2026 9:44:37 AM EDT, Nigel Hopper via busybox 
> > <busybox at busybox.net> wrote:
> >  >My understanding is that Busybox does not do this as it sees itself as
> >  >a collection of utilities that ‘acts’ like an OS, just in a very
> >  >stripped-down way.
> > 
> > BusyBox is not an OS. It is a combined executable for embedded environments.
> > 
> >  >Using the os-release file allows us to correctly identify which OS we
> >  >are processing and how to ID all the packages in it.
> >  >
> >  >Is there any way Busybox can be identified as being the 'installed OS’
> >  >other than if it was listed in an os-release file?
> > 
> > BusyBox is a user-mode program like any other. It is not an OS.
> > --
> > Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
> > Unless otherwise stated above:
> > 
> > IBM United Kingdom Limited
> > Registered in England and Wales with number 741598
> > Registered office: Building C, IBM Hursley Office, Hursley Park Road, 
> > Winchester, Hampshire SO21 2JN
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > busybox mailing list
> > busybox at busybox.net
> > https://lists.busybox.net/mailman/listinfo/busybox
> 
> -- 
> decentral.ch - IT Stuff
> Tim Tassonis
> Badenerstrasse 219
> 8003 Zürich
> stuff at decentral.ch
> +41 79 229 36 17
> 
> _______________________________________________
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+------------------------------------------------------------+
 Michael D. Setzer II - Computer Science Instructor (Retired)     
 mailto:mikes at guam.net                            
 mailto:msetzerii at gmail.com
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 Guam - Where America's Day Begins                        
 G4L Disk Imaging Project maintainer 
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+------------------------------------------------------------+