Build output in VSCode NCS Plugin is not colored on Windows

[Jonas Hoefer]

Hello,

I am developing using VSCode on Windows. When I use the "Build" button from the NCS option list (see first image) I get the build output without any colors. When I use `west build` on the command line I get colored output (see second image). Is there anything I can do to get the colored output for the first option as well? This could be very helpful to make warnings visible in between the regular logs.

I am using the latest version of the VS Code Plugin: v2023.11.301

Clicking "Build":

Use "NRF Connect Terminal":

Here next to each other:

Thanks in advance

Jonas

[Priyanka]

Hi Jonas,
I am not sure whether we can have this custom colour for build output, but I have inquired internally with the developers and will get back to you as soon as I get a response.

Regards,

Priyanka

[Priyanka]

Hi Jonas,

Unfortunately this is not something that we can do for the build output.

Regards,

Priyanka

[Jonas Hoefer]

Hi Priyanka, thank you for your answer. Could you please tell me what's the reason, this output can only be in white? Maybe I could open a ticket for VS Code then.

Thank you!

Regards,
Jonas

[Priyanka]

Hi Jonas,

Our experts mentioned that since west/cmake/gcc thinks it is running without tty, they probably don't give us color code characters to begin with, and hence we cannot do anything regarding this.

Regards,

Priyanka

[Florian Zierer]

Hi Priyanka,

I had the same issue but it seems it could be fixed in your extension  by using node-pty. See the following bug which looks very similar:

https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/issues/155444#issuecomment-1204578986

It would be very nice to have color output in the console.

Best,

Florian