Changing "git status" output colors in Posh-Git

Question

In Posh-Git, when I run "git status" in a repository, the colors for changes and untracked files are dark red, when I have tried to configure them to be "normal" red. I want to do this because I have a console with a dark background, so dark red is difficult to read.

I searched around, and there seem to be two configuration changes which I needed to make:

1. Change "WorkingForegroundColor" and "UntrackedForegroundColor" from "DarkRed" to "Red" in $GitPromptSettings.

2. Change "color.status.changed" and "color.status.untracked" to red in git config.

From my reading, that's all I should need to do, and yet the results of "git status" remain dark red.

Here's a summary, to prove I set them as I claimed, and maybe someone can spot the error:

Answer 1

There is only one way to change DarkRed to Red here: modify color scheme of console window itself. As far as I know git will pick "first" red on the list (that happens to be dark...). So just increase R value for it.

You can do it directly on window (Properties -> Colors) or in registry. Prompt is different story: it uses PS color names, where Red = Red, not DarkRed...

Answer 2

To change the color of the listed untracked and modified files to the more readable yellow color, you can add this to your ~/.gitconfig file:

[color "status"]
    untracked = bold yellow
    changed = bold yellow

Also updating you GitPrompt.ps1 to show untracked as yellow is then probably a good idea:

    UntrackedForegroundColor  = [ConsoleColor]::Yellow
    WorkingForegroundColor    = [ConsoleColor]::Yellow

Edit: GitPrompt.ps1 is found in the PowerShell posh-git folder.

Answer 3

You can change these by modifying the source of the GitPrompt.ps1 file in the PowerShell posh-git module folder. I had the same issue and just removed the 'Dark' in the colors defined around line 30 in this file:

BeforeIndexForegroundColor= [ConsoleColor]::**Green**
BeforeIndexBackgroundColor= $Host.UI.RawUI.BackgroundColor

IndexForegroundColor      = [ConsoleColor]::**Green**
IndexBackgroundColor      = $Host.UI.RawUI.BackgroundColor

WorkingForegroundColor    = [ConsoleColor]::**Red**
WorkingBackgroundColor    = $Host.UI.RawUI.BackgroundColor

UntrackedText             = ' !'
UntrackedForegroundColor  = [ConsoleColor]::**Red**

This list of Powershell colors is also useful.

Answer 4

In addition of @WarrenB answer. To change the color of status and the color of the git diff (of new lines and removed lines) you have to have this in your .git/config file:

[color]
    ui = true
[color "status"]
    changed = red bold
    untracked = red bold
    added = green bold
[color "diff"]
    old = red bold
    new = green bold

The "diff" option enables you the bright (bold) red and green colors. Reference: https://git-scm.com/docs/git-config#git-config-colordiff

Answer 5

The output of git status is controlled by your .gitconfig file. The default for changed and untracked files is a dim Red but you likely want Red Bold which is the bright (default) red you have in the prompt.

Add the following to your .gitconfig file:

[color]
    ui = true
[color "status"]
    changed = red bold
    untracked = red bold
    added = green bold

For anyone else referencing this in the future, the accepted colours are normal, black, red, green, yellow, blue, magenta, cyan, and white as well a single optional modifier bold, dim, ul, blink, or reverse. If two colours are given the first is the foreground, and the second is the background.