Description

hugovk

opened on Apr 19, 2026

Issue body actions

Feature or enhancement

Proposal:

python --help (and especially --help-all) is a monochrome wall of text. Similar to argparse help, let's add some colour to add structure and improve readability.

Here's real screenshots of --help and termshot capture of --help-all:

Before	After
--help	--help
--help-all	--help-all

Has this already been discussed elsewhere?

No response given

Links to previous discussion of this feature:

No response

Linked PRs

• gh-148766: Add colour to Python help #148767

Reacted by M. Kocher

Activity

1. hugovk

   added

   type-featureA feature request or enhancementA feature request or enhancement

   interpreter-core(Objects, Python, Grammar, and Parser dirs)(Objects, Python, Grammar, and Parser dirs)

   on Apr 19, 2026
2. serhiy-storchaka commented on Apr 21, 2026

   

   serhiy-storchaka

   on Apr 21, 2026

   Member

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   Suggestions:

   • Show file and arg in the same color as option arguments.
   • Why use different colors for short and long options? I would use the same color (different from the color for environment variables).
   • There are references to options and environment variables in descriptions. I would highlight them too.
3. hugovk commented on Apr 21, 2026

   

   hugovk

   on Apr 21, 2026

   MemberAuthor

   More actions

   Suggestions:

   • Show file and arg in the same color as option arguments.

   I followed what argparse does, see the positional argument product here:

   

   • Why use different colors for short and long options? I would use the same color (different from the color for environment variables).

   Also for consistency with argparse.

   • There are references to options and environment variables in descriptions. I would highlight them too.

   👍 Will check this tomorrow.
4. hugovk

   added a commit that references this issue on May 6, 2026

   gh-148766: Add colour to Python help (#148767)

   e7613f2
5. hugovk

   closed this as completedon May 6, 2026

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