vix/chalk

Terminal string styling for C++.

Header-only. Expressive. ANSI-based.

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Download

https://vixcpp.com/registry/pkg/vix/chalk

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Overview

vix/chalk provides a simple and expressive API to style terminal output.

It supports:

• foreground colors
• background colors
• text styles
• RGB colors
• HEX colors

It is designed to be:

• minimal
• predictable
• easy to use
• zero overhead

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Why vix/chalk?

Styling terminal output is often:

• verbose
• repetitive
• hard to read
• error-prone

Using raw ANSI codes leads to:

• poor readability
• duplicated logic
• hard maintenance

vix/chalk provides:

• a clean API
• composable styles
• readable code

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Installation

Using Vix

vix add @vix/chalk
vix install

Manual

git clone https://github.com/vixcpp/chalk.git

Add include/ to your project.

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Basic Usage

#include <vix/chalk/chalk.hpp>
#include <iostream>

int main()
{
  using namespace vix::chalk;

  std::cout << red("error") << '\n';
  std::cout << green("success") << '\n';
}

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Chaining Styles

std::cout << red().bold()("fatal error") << '\n';
std::cout << blue().underline()("important") << '\n';

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Background Colors

std::cout << bgRed().white().bold()(" ERROR ") << '\n';
std::cout << bgGreen().black()(" OK ") << '\n';

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RGB Colors

std::cout << rgb(255, 153, 0)("orange") << '\n';
std::cout << bgRgb(30, 30, 30).white()("panel") << '\n';

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HEX Colors

std::cout << hex("#ff9900")("brand") << '\n';
std::cout << bgHex("#1e1e1e").white()("title") << '\n';

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Utilities

Strip ANSI

std::string clean = strip_ansi(red().bold()("error"));

Enable / Disable

setEnabled(false);
setEnabled(true);

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Execution Model

• styles are immutable
• chaining builds a new style
• application happens at call time
• no global state mutation

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Complexity

Operation	Complexity
style creation	O(1)
chaining	O(1)
apply style	O(n)

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Design Philosophy

• minimal API
• explicit behavior
• composable styles
• no hidden magic
• header-only simplicity

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Tests

vix build
vix test

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License

MIT License Copyright (c) Gaspard Kirira