DOTNET_SYSTEM_CONSOLE_ALLOW_ANSI_COLOR_REDIRECTION doesn't work on GitHub Actions

[Tyrrrz]

Hi!

Here's the workflow file:

https://github.com/Tyrrrz/TestDotnetColors/blob/f49985c96964794e2a79aa0a5f0d27d545167f11/.github/workflows/main.yml

Here's the build log:

https://github.com/Tyrrrz/TestDotnetColors/actions/runs/2198507419

Unfortunately, it seems that dotnet does not produce color codes when running on GitHub Actions, despite having DOTNET_SYSTEM_CONSOLE_ALLOW_ANSI_COLOR_REDIRECTION set.

Output, when redirected to a file, looks like this:

  Determining projects to restore...
  Restored /home/runner/work/TestDotnetColors/TestDotnetColors/Project.csproj (in 6.23 sec).
  Project -> /home/runner/work/TestDotnetColors/TestDotnetColors/bin/Debug/net6.0/Project.dll
Test run for /home/runner/work/TestDotnetColors/TestDotnetColors/bin/Debug/net6.0/Project.dll (.NETCoreApp,Version=v6.0)
Microsoft (R) Test Execution Command Line Tool Version 17.0.0
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

Starting test execution, please wait...
A total of 1 test files matched the specified pattern.
  Failed CliFx.Tests.Specs.Throws [2 ms]
  Error Message:
   Assert.True() Failure
Expected: True
Actual:   False
  Stack Trace:
     at CliFx.Tests.Specs.Throws() in /home/runner/work/TestDotnetColors/TestDotnetColors/Tests.cs:line 11

Failed!  - Failed:     1, Passed:     0, Skipped:     0, Total:     1, Duration: < 1 ms - /home/runner/work/TestDotnetColors/TestDotnetColors/bin/Debug/net6.0/Project.dll (net6.0)

When running tests in GitHub Codespaces with the mentioned env var set, I get this instead:

  Determining projects to restore...
  All projects are up-to-date for restore.
  Project -> /workspaces/TestDotnetColors/bin/Debug/net6.0/Project.dll
Test run for /workspaces/TestDotnetColors/bin/Debug/net6.0/Project.dll (.NETCoreApp,Version=v6.0)
Microsoft (R) Test Execution Command Line Tool Version 17.1.0
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

Starting test execution, please wait...
A total of 1 test files matched the specified pattern.
�[39;49m�[91m�[39;49m�[39;49m�[91m  Failed �[39;49mCliFx.Tests.Specs.Throws [3 ms]
�[39;49m�[91m  Error Message:
�[39;49m�[39;49m�[91m   Assert.True() Failure
Expected: True
Actual:   False
�[39;49m�[39;49m�[91m  Stack Trace:
�[39;49m�[39;49m�[91m     at CliFx.Tests.Specs.Throws() in /workspaces/TestDotnetColors/Tests.cs:line 11
�[39;49m
�[39;49m�[91mFailed!  - Failed:     1, Passed:     0, Skipped:     0, Total:     1, Duration: < 1 ms�[39;49m�[39;49m - /workspaces/TestDotnetColors/bin/Debug/net6.0/Project.dll (net6.0)
�[39;49m

What could be the reason it works differently on GHA?

Related: #47935 #33980 StackExchange/StackExchange.Redis#2113

[am11]

Setting TERM=xterm or xterm-256color etc. (am11/TestDotnetColors@03fd08b) the uploaded artifact gets the color:

  Determining projects to restore...
  Restored /home/runner/work/TestDotnetColors/TestDotnetColors/Project.csproj (in 5.79 sec).
  Project -> /home/runner/work/TestDotnetColors/TestDotnetColors/bin/Debug/net6.0/Project.dll
Test run for /home/runner/work/TestDotnetColors/TestDotnetColors/bin/Debug/net6.0/Project.dll (.NETCoreApp,Version=v6.0)
Microsoft (R) Test Execution Command Line Tool Version 17.1.0
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

Starting test execution, please wait...
A total of 1 test files matched the specified pattern.
^[[39;49m^[[31m^[[39;49m^[[39;49m^[[31m  Failed ^[[39;49mCliFx.Tests.Specs.Throws [2 ms]
^[[39;49m^[[31m  Error Message:
^[[39;49m^[[39;49m^[[31m   Assert.True() Failure
Expected: True
Actual:   False
^[[39;49m^[[39;49m^[[31m  Stack Trace:
^[[39;49m^[[39;49m^[[31m     at CliFx.Tests.Specs.Throws() in /home/runner/work/TestDotnetColors/TestDotnetColors/Tests.cs:line 11
^[[39;49m
^[[39;49m^[[31mFailed!  - Failed:     1, Passed:     0, Skipped:     0, Total:     1, Duration: < 1 ms^[[39;49m^[[39;49m - /home/runner/work/TestDotnetColors/TestDotnetColors/bin/Debug/net6.0/Proj$
^[[39;49m

By default, GitHub Action has TERM=dumb set. We just need to make it smart. 🙂

[am11]

With | tee out.txt, it renders the contents to stdout (as well as write to file) https://github.com/am11/TestDotnetColors/runs/6103943395?check_suite_focus=true

[xt0rted]

This only seems to work on macOS and Ubuntu, is there a way to get this to work on Windows too?

[Tyrrrz]

This only seems to work on macOS and Ubuntu, is there a way to get this to work on Windows too?

#68340