# CMAKE_COLOR_DIAGNOSTICS

Added in version 3.24.

Enable color diagnostics throughout the generated build system.

This variable uses three states: `ON`, `OFF` and not defined.

When not defined:

- Makefile Generators initialize the `CMAKE_COLOR_MAKEFILE` variable to `ON`. It controls color buildsystem messages.

- GNU/Clang compilers are not invoked with any color diagnostics flag.

When `ON`:

- Makefile Generators produce color buildsystem messages by default. `CMAKE_COLOR_MAKEFILE` is not initialized, but may be explicitly set to `OFF` to disable color buildsystem messages.

- GNU/Clang compilers are invoked with a flag enabling color diagnostics (`-fcolor-diagnostics`).

When `OFF`:

- Makefile Generators do not produce color buildsystem messages by default. `CMAKE_COLOR_MAKEFILE` is not initialized, but may be explicitly set to `ON` to enable color buildsystem messages.

- GNU/Clang compilers are invoked with a flag disabling color diagnostics (`-fno-color-diagnostics`).

If the `CMAKE_COLOR_DIAGNOSTICS` environment variable is set, its value is used. Otherwise, `CMAKE_COLOR_DIAGNOSTICS` is not defined by default.

See the `CLICOLOR` and `CLICOLOR_FORCE` environment variables to control color output from CMake command-line tools.