How do I disable colors when running tests in Rust with colored-rs?

Use the 'no-color' feature flag: in Cargo.toml, add 'dumb_terminal = ["colored/no-color"]' and run tests with 'cargo test --features dumb_terminal'. This disables coloring at compile time for test environments.

What's the difference between colored-rs and ansi_term for terminal coloring?

Colored-rs offers a more intuitive fluent API with method chaining and better environment variable support, while ansi_term provides lower-level ANSI code control. Colored-rs is easier for most use cases but less flexible for custom escapes.

Does colored-rs work on Windows Command Prompt?

Yes, it works on Windows including Command Prompt and PowerShell, as noted in the README. However, true color support may be limited on older terminals like classic Command Prompt.

How to use hex color codes in colored-rs?

Use the .color("#RRGGBB") method, as shown in the example with .color("#0057B7"). This parses hex strings dynamically, allowing precise color specification without manual RGB conversion.

Can I chain multiple styles like bold and underline together?

Yes, simply call methods sequentially, like "text".bold().underline().red(). The order doesn't matter for colors and styles, and you can clear them with .clear() or .normal().

What happens if NO_COLOR is set but CLICOLOR_FORCE is also set?

CLICOLOR_FORCE overrides NO_COLOR, as per the specs followed by colored-rs. Colors will be forced on regardless of NO_COLOR, but this behavior is terminal-dependent and should be used cautiously.

Open-Awesome

colored

MPL-2.0Rustv3.1.1

A simple Rust library for coloring terminal output with an intuitive API and support for true colors.

GitHub

2.0k stars95 forks0 contributors

What is colored?

Colored is a Rust library that provides an easy and intuitive way to add colors and styles to terminal output. It solves the problem of verbose or complex terminal text formatting by offering a fluent API that allows method chaining directly on strings, while respecting environment variables like NO_COLOR and CLICOLOR for cross-platform compatibility.

Target Audience

Rust developers building command-line applications, tools, or scripts that require enhanced terminal output with colors and styles, especially those prioritizing ease of use and cross-platform support.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Colored for its intuitive fluent API that makes coloring as simple as calling .blue() or .bold() on strings, its robust support for true colors and environment variable awareness, and its minimal dependencies with compile-time control via feature flags.

Overview

(Rust) Coloring terminal so simple you already know how to do it !

Use Cases

Best For

Adding colored status messages (e.g., success in green, errors in red) to CLI tools.
Building terminal-based applications that require rich text formatting with styles like bold, italic, or underline.
Creating cross-platform command-line utilities that respect NO_COLOR and CLICOLOR environment variables for accessibility.
Implementing true color support in terminal output for modern terminals that support arbitrary RGB values.
Developing Rust projects where compile-time disabling of colors is needed, such as in testing environments.
Simplifying terminal output styling with a fluent API that avoids complex ANSI escape code handling.

Not Ideal For

Applications requiring low-level ANSI escape code manipulation for custom terminal behaviors beyond coloring.
Projects deployed in headless environments without terminal emulation (e.g., server logs with no TTY).
Teams needing permissive licensing without copyleft requirements, as MPL2.0 mandates sharing modifications.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Intuitive Fluent API

Allows method chaining like '.blue().bold()' directly on strings, making coloring straightforward as shown in the extensive example code.

True Color Support

Supports arbitrary RGB values with .truecolor() method for modern terminals, enabling rich color customization without limitations.

Environment Awareness

Respects CLICOLOR, CLICOLOR_FORCE, and NO_COLOR variables automatically, ensuring cross-platform compatibility and user accessibility preferences.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Works on Linux, macOS, and Windows including PowerShell, as explicitly stated in the README, reducing portability issues.

Cons

Terminal Dependency

True color support requires terminal compatibility (COLORTERM set), and the library lacks detailed fallback mechanisms for unsupported terminals, which can lead to inconsistent output.

License Constraints

MPL2.0 license requires sharing modifications to the library code, which may be restrictive for proprietary projects or teams avoiding copyleft.

Limited Advanced Features

Focuses solely on basic coloring and styles; lacks support for terminal UI elements, cursor control, or animations, making it unsuitable for complex interactive apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

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