Merge branch 'jk/ref-filter-colors'

"%C(color name)" in the pretty print format always produced ANSI
color escape codes, which was an early design mistake.  They now
honor the configuration (e.g. "color.ui = never") and also tty-ness
of the output medium.

* jk/ref-filter-colors:
  ref-filter: consult want_color() before emitting colors
  pretty: respect color settings for %C placeholders
  rev-list: pass diffopt->use_colors through to pretty-print
  for-each-ref: load config earlier
  color: check color.ui in git_default_config()
  ref-filter: pass ref_format struct to atom parsers
  ref-filter: factor out the parsing of sorting atoms
  ref-filter: make parse_ref_filter_atom a private function
  ref-filter: provide a function for parsing sort options
  ref-filter: move need_color_reset_at_eol into ref_format
  ref-filter: abstract ref format into its own struct
  ref-filter: simplify automatic color reset
  t: use test_decode_color rather than literal ANSI codes
  docs/for-each-ref: update pointer to color syntax
  check return value of verify_ref_format()

22 files changed, 362 insertions, 220 deletions

diff --git a/Documentation/git-for-each-ref.txt b/Documentation/git-for-each-ref.txt
index 03e187a105..cc42c12832 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-for-each-ref.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-for-each-ref.txt
@@ -156,8 +156,10 @@ HEAD::
 	otherwise.
 
 color::
-	Change output color.  Followed by `:<colorname>`, where names
-	are described in `color.branch.*`.
+	Change output color. Followed by `:<colorname>`, where color
+	names are described under Values in the "CONFIGURATION FILE"
+	section of linkgit:git-config[1].  For example,
+	`%(color:bold red)`.
 
 align::
 	Left-, middle-, or right-align the content between
diff --git a/Documentation/pretty-formats.txt b/Documentation/pretty-formats.txt
index 4d6dac5770..973d19606b 100644
--- a/Documentation/pretty-formats.txt
+++ b/Documentation/pretty-formats.txt
@@ -173,13 +173,17 @@ endif::git-rev-list[]
 - '%Cblue': switch color to blue
 - '%Creset': reset color
 - '%C(...)': color specification, as described under Values in the
-  "CONFIGURATION FILE" section of linkgit:git-config[1];
-  adding `auto,` at the beginning (e.g. `%C(auto,red)`) will emit
-  color only when colors are enabled for log output (by `color.diff`,
-  `color.ui`, or `--color`, and respecting the `auto` settings of the
-  former if we are going to a terminal). `auto` alone (i.e.
-  `%C(auto)`) will turn on auto coloring on the next placeholders
-  until the color is switched again.
+  "CONFIGURATION FILE" section of linkgit:git-config[1].
+  By default, colors are shown only when enabled for log output (by
+  `color.diff`, `color.ui`, or `--color`, and respecting the `auto`
+  settings of the former if we are going to a terminal). `%C(auto,...)`
+  is accepted as a historical synonym for the default (e.g.,
+  `%C(auto,red)`). Specifying `%C(always,...) will show the colors
+  even when color is not otherwise enabled (though consider
+  just using `--color=always` to enable color for the whole output,
+  including this format and anything else git might color).  `auto`
+  alone (i.e. `%C(auto)`) will turn on auto coloring on the next
+  placeholders until the color is switched again.
 - '%m': left (`<`), right (`>`) or boundary (`-`) mark
 - '%n': newline
 - '%%': a raw '%'
diff --git a/builtin/branch.c b/builtin/branch.c
index 8a0595e115..16d391b407 100644
--- a/builtin/branch.c
+++ b/builtin/branch.c
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ static int git_branch_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 			return config_error_nonbool(var);
 		return color_parse(value, branch_colors[slot]);
 	}
-	return git_color_default_config(var, value, cb);
+	return git_default_config(var, value, cb);
 }
 
 static const char *branch_get_color(enum color_branch ix)
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ static char *build_format(struct ref_filter *filter, int maxwidth, const char *r
 	return strbuf_detach(&fmt, NULL);
 }
 
-static void print_ref_list(struct ref_filter *filter, struct ref_sorting *sorting, const char *format)
+static void print_ref_list(struct ref_filter *filter, struct ref_sorting *sorting, struct ref_format *format)
 {
 	int i;
 	struct ref_array array;
@@ -407,14 +407,17 @@ static void print_ref_list(struct ref_filter *filter, struct ref_sorting *sortin
 	if (filter->verbose)
 		maxwidth = calc_maxwidth(&array, strlen(remote_prefix));
 
-	if (!format)
-		format = to_free = build_format(filter, maxwidth, remote_prefix);
-	verify_ref_format(format);
+	if (!format->format)
+		format->format = to_free = build_format(filter, maxwidth, remote_prefix);
+	format->use_color = branch_use_color;
+
+	if (verify_ref_format(format))
+		die(_("unable to parse format string"));
 
 	ref_array_sort(sorting, &array);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < array.nr; i++) {
-		format_ref_array_item(array.items[i], format, 0, &out);
+		format_ref_array_item(array.items[i], format, &out);
 		if (column_active(colopts)) {
 			assert(!filter->verbose && "--column and --verbose are incompatible");
 			 /* format to a string_list to let print_columns() do its job */
@@ -549,7 +552,7 @@ int cmd_branch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	struct ref_filter filter;
 	int icase = 0;
 	static struct ref_sorting *sorting = NULL, **sorting_tail = &sorting;
-	const char *format = NULL;
+	struct ref_format format = REF_FORMAT_INIT;
 
 	struct option options[] = {
 		OPT_GROUP(N_("Generic options")),
@@ -593,7 +596,7 @@ int cmd_branch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			N_("print only branches of the object"), 0, parse_opt_object_name
 		},
 		OPT_BOOL('i', "ignore-case", &icase, N_("sorting and filtering are case insensitive")),
-		OPT_STRING(  0 , "format", &format, N_("format"), N_("format to use for the output")),
+		OPT_STRING(  0 , "format", &format.format, N_("format"), N_("format to use for the output")),
 		OPT_END(),
 	};
 
@@ -667,7 +670,7 @@ int cmd_branch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		if (!sorting)
 			sorting = ref_default_sorting();
 		sorting->ignore_case = icase;
-		print_ref_list(&filter, sorting, format);
+		print_ref_list(&filter, sorting, &format);
 		print_columns(&output, colopts, NULL);
 		string_list_clear(&output, 0);
 		return 0;
diff --git a/builtin/clean.c b/builtin/clean.c
index 057fc97fe4..c1bafda5b6 100644
--- a/builtin/clean.c
+++ b/builtin/clean.c
@@ -125,8 +125,7 @@ static int git_clean_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	/* inspect the color.ui config variable and others */
-	return git_color_default_config(var, value, cb);
+	return git_default_config(var, value, cb);
 }
 
 static const char *clean_get_color(enum color_clean ix)
diff --git a/builtin/for-each-ref.c b/builtin/for-each-ref.c
index 52be99cbac..5d7c921a77 100644
--- a/builtin/for-each-ref.c
+++ b/builtin/for-each-ref.c
@@ -17,25 +17,25 @@ static char const * const for_each_ref_usage[] = {
 int cmd_for_each_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	int i;
-	const char *format = "%(objectname) %(objecttype)\t%(refname)";
 	struct ref_sorting *sorting = NULL, **sorting_tail = &sorting;
-	int maxcount = 0, quote_style = 0, icase = 0;
+	int maxcount = 0, icase = 0;
 	struct ref_array array;
 	struct ref_filter filter;
+	struct ref_format format = REF_FORMAT_INIT;
 
 	struct option opts[] = {
-		OPT_BIT('s', "shell", &quote_style,
+		OPT_BIT('s', "shell", &format.quote_style,
 			N_("quote placeholders suitably for shells"), QUOTE_SHELL),
-		OPT_BIT('p', "perl",  &quote_style,
+		OPT_BIT('p', "perl",  &format.quote_style,
 			N_("quote placeholders suitably for perl"), QUOTE_PERL),
-		OPT_BIT(0 , "python", &quote_style,
+		OPT_BIT(0 , "python", &format.quote_style,
 			N_("quote placeholders suitably for python"), QUOTE_PYTHON),
-		OPT_BIT(0 , "tcl",  &quote_style,
+		OPT_BIT(0 , "tcl",  &format.quote_style,
 			N_("quote placeholders suitably for Tcl"), QUOTE_TCL),
 
 		OPT_GROUP(""),
 		OPT_INTEGER( 0 , "count", &maxcount, N_("show only <n> matched refs")),
-		OPT_STRING(  0 , "format", &format, N_("format"), N_("format to use for the output")),
+		OPT_STRING(  0 , "format", &format.format, N_("format"), N_("format to use for the output")),
 		OPT_CALLBACK(0 , "sort", sorting_tail, N_("key"),
 			    N_("field name to sort on"), &parse_opt_ref_sorting),
 		OPT_CALLBACK(0, "points-at", &filter.points_at,
@@ -52,16 +52,20 @@ int cmd_for_each_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	memset(&array, 0, sizeof(array));
 	memset(&filter, 0, sizeof(filter));
 
+	format.format = "%(objectname) %(objecttype)\t%(refname)";
+
+	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
+
 	parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, opts, for_each_ref_usage, 0);
 	if (maxcount < 0) {
 		error("invalid --count argument: `%d'", maxcount);
 		usage_with_options(for_each_ref_usage, opts);
 	}
-	if (HAS_MULTI_BITS(quote_style)) {
+	if (HAS_MULTI_BITS(format.quote_style)) {
 		error("more than one quoting style?");
 		usage_with_options(for_each_ref_usage, opts);
 	}
-	if (verify_ref_format(format))
+	if (verify_ref_format(&format))
 		usage_with_options(for_each_ref_usage, opts);
 
 	if (!sorting)
@@ -69,9 +73,6 @@ int cmd_for_each_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	sorting->ignore_case = icase;
 	filter.ignore_case = icase;
 
-	/* for warn_ambiguous_refs */
-	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);
-
 	filter.name_patterns = argv;
 	filter.match_as_path = 1;
 	filter_refs(&array, &filter, FILTER_REFS_ALL | FILTER_REFS_INCLUDE_BROKEN);
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ int cmd_for_each_ref(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (!maxcount || array.nr < maxcount)
 		maxcount = array.nr;
 	for (i = 0; i < maxcount; i++)
-		show_ref_array_item(array.items[i], format, quote_style);
+		show_ref_array_item(array.items[i], &format);
 	ref_array_clear(&array);
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/builtin/grep.c b/builtin/grep.c
index b100629023..3cbee04dc4 100644
--- a/builtin/grep.c
+++ b/builtin/grep.c
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ static int wait_all(void)
 static int grep_cmd_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 {
 	int st = grep_config(var, value, cb);
-	if (git_color_default_config(var, value, cb) < 0)
+	if (git_default_config(var, value, cb) < 0)
 		st = -1;
 
 	if (!strcmp(var, "grep.threads")) {
diff --git a/builtin/rev-list.c b/builtin/rev-list.c
index 95d84d5cda..fee10d8567 100644
--- a/builtin/rev-list.c
+++ b/builtin/rev-list.c
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ static void show_commit(struct commit *commit, void *data)
 		ctx.date_mode_explicit = revs->date_mode_explicit;
 		ctx.fmt = revs->commit_format;
 		ctx.output_encoding = get_log_output_encoding();
+		ctx.color = revs->diffopt.use_color;
 		pretty_print_commit(&ctx, commit, &buf);
 		if (buf.len) {
 			if (revs->commit_format != CMIT_FMT_ONELINE)
diff --git a/builtin/show-branch.c b/builtin/show-branch.c
index 6fa1f62a88..84547d6fba 100644
--- a/builtin/show-branch.c
+++ b/builtin/show-branch.c
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ static int git_show_branch_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	return git_color_default_config(var, value, cb);
+	return git_default_config(var, value, cb);
 }
 
 static int omit_in_dense(struct commit *commit, struct commit **rev, int n)
diff --git a/builtin/tag.c b/builtin/tag.c
index b25bf8daa2..e8a30e6110 100644
--- a/builtin/tag.c
+++ b/builtin/tag.c
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ static const char * const git_tag_usage[] = {
 static unsigned int colopts;
 static int force_sign_annotate;
 
-static int list_tags(struct ref_filter *filter, struct ref_sorting *sorting, const char *format)
+static int list_tags(struct ref_filter *filter, struct ref_sorting *sorting,
+		     struct ref_format *format)
 {
 	struct ref_array array;
 	char *to_free = NULL;
@@ -43,23 +44,24 @@ static int list_tags(struct ref_filter *filter, struct ref_sorting *sorting, con
 	if (filter->lines == -1)
 		filter->lines = 0;
 
-	if (!format) {
+	if (!format->format) {
 		if (filter->lines) {
 			to_free = xstrfmt("%s %%(contents:lines=%d)",
 					  "%(align:15)%(refname:lstrip=2)%(end)",
 					  filter->lines);
-			format = to_free;
+			format->format = to_free;
 		} else
-			format = "%(refname:lstrip=2)";
+			format->format = "%(refname:lstrip=2)";
 	}
 
-	verify_ref_format(format);
+	if (verify_ref_format(format))
+		die(_("unable to parse format string"));
 	filter->with_commit_tag_algo = 1;
 	filter_refs(&array, filter, FILTER_REFS_TAGS);
 	ref_array_sort(sorting, &array);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < array.nr; i++)
-		show_ref_array_item(array.items[i], format, 0);
+		show_ref_array_item(array.items[i], format);
 	ref_array_clear(&array);
 	free(to_free);
 
@@ -105,17 +107,17 @@ static int verify_tag(const char *name, const char *ref,
 		      const struct object_id *oid, const void *cb_data)
 {
 	int flags;
-	const char *fmt_pretty = cb_data;
+	const struct ref_format *format = cb_data;
 	flags = GPG_VERIFY_VERBOSE;
 
-	if (fmt_pretty)
+	if (format->format)
 		flags = GPG_VERIFY_OMIT_STATUS;
 
 	if (gpg_verify_tag(oid, name, flags))
 		return -1;
 
-	if (fmt_pretty)
-		pretty_print_ref(name, oid->hash, fmt_pretty);
+	if (format->format)
+		pretty_print_ref(name, oid->hash, format);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -134,30 +136,6 @@ static const char tag_template_nocleanup[] =
 	"Lines starting with '%c' will be kept; you may remove them"
 	" yourself if you want to.\n");
 
-/* Parse arg given and add it the ref_sorting array */
-static int parse_sorting_string(const char *arg, struct ref_sorting **sorting_tail)
-{
-	struct ref_sorting *s;
-	int len;
-
-	s = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*s));
-	s->next = *sorting_tail;
-	*sorting_tail = s;
-
-	if (*arg == '-') {
-		s->reverse = 1;
-		arg++;
-	}
-	if (skip_prefix(arg, "version:", &arg) ||
-	    skip_prefix(arg, "v:", &arg))
-		s->version = 1;
-
-	len = strlen(arg);
-	s->atom = parse_ref_filter_atom(arg, arg+len);
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
 static int git_tag_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 {
 	int status;
@@ -166,7 +144,7 @@ static int git_tag_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 	if (!strcmp(var, "tag.sort")) {
 		if (!value)
 			return config_error_nonbool(var);
-		parse_sorting_string(value, sorting_tail);
+		parse_ref_sorting(sorting_tail, value);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -392,7 +370,7 @@ int cmd_tag(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct ref_filter filter;
 	static struct ref_sorting *sorting = NULL, **sorting_tail = &sorting;
-	const char *format = NULL;
+	struct ref_format format = REF_FORMAT_INIT;
 	int icase = 0;
 	struct option options[] = {
 		OPT_CMDMODE('l', "list", &cmdmode, N_("list tag names"), 'l'),
@@ -431,7 +409,8 @@ int cmd_tag(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			N_("print only tags of the object"), PARSE_OPT_LASTARG_DEFAULT,
 			parse_opt_object_name, (intptr_t) "HEAD"
 		},
-		OPT_STRING(  0 , "format", &format, N_("format"), N_("format to use for the output")),
+		OPT_STRING(  0 , "format", &format.format, N_("format"),
+			   N_("format to use for the output")),
 		OPT_BOOL('i', "ignore-case", &icase, N_("sorting and filtering are case insensitive")),
 		OPT_END()
 	};
@@ -483,7 +462,7 @@ int cmd_tag(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			run_column_filter(colopts, &copts);
 		}
 		filter.name_patterns = argv;
-		ret = list_tags(&filter, sorting, format);
+		ret = list_tags(&filter, sorting, &format);
 		if (column_active(colopts))
 			stop_column_filter();
 		return ret;
@@ -501,9 +480,9 @@ int cmd_tag(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (cmdmode == 'd')
 		return for_each_tag_name(argv, delete_tag, NULL);
 	if (cmdmode == 'v') {
-		if (format)
-			verify_ref_format(format);
-		return for_each_tag_name(argv, verify_tag, format);
+		if (format.format && verify_ref_format(&format))
+			usage_with_options(git_tag_usage, options);
+		return for_each_tag_name(argv, verify_tag, &format);
 	}
 
 	if (msg.given || msgfile) {
diff --git a/builtin/verify-tag.c b/builtin/verify-tag.c
index ed8329340f..ad7b79fa5c 100644
--- a/builtin/verify-tag.c
+++ b/builtin/verify-tag.c
@@ -32,11 +32,11 @@ int cmd_verify_tag(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	int i = 1, verbose = 0, had_error = 0;
 	unsigned flags = 0;
-	char *fmt_pretty = NULL;
+	struct ref_format format = REF_FORMAT_INIT;
 	const struct option verify_tag_options[] = {
 		OPT__VERBOSE(&verbose, N_("print tag contents")),
 		OPT_BIT(0, "raw", &flags, N_("print raw gpg status output"), GPG_VERIFY_RAW),
-		OPT_STRING(  0 , "format", &fmt_pretty, N_("format"), N_("format to use for the output")),
+		OPT_STRING(0, "format", &format.format, N_("format"), N_("format to use for the output")),
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
@@ -50,8 +50,10 @@ int cmd_verify_tag(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (verbose)
 		flags |= GPG_VERIFY_VERBOSE;
 
-	if (fmt_pretty) {
-		verify_ref_format(fmt_pretty);
+	if (format.format) {
+		if (verify_ref_format(&format))
+			usage_with_options(verify_tag_usage,
+					   verify_tag_options);
 		flags |= GPG_VERIFY_OMIT_STATUS;
 	}
 
@@ -69,8 +71,8 @@ int cmd_verify_tag(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		if (fmt_pretty)
-			pretty_print_ref(name, oid.hash, fmt_pretty);
+		if (format.format)
+			pretty_print_ref(name, oid.hash, &format);
 	}
 	return had_error;
 }
diff --git a/color.c b/color.c
index 31b6207a00..7aa8b076f0 100644
--- a/color.c
+++ b/color.c
@@ -361,14 +361,6 @@ int git_color_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int git_color_default_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
-{
-	if (git_color_config(var, value, cb) < 0)
-		return -1;
-
-	return git_default_config(var, value, cb);
-}
-
 void color_print_strbuf(FILE *fp, const char *color, const struct strbuf *sb)
 {
 	if (*color)
diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index a1b66fe764..e04500d13b 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include "string-list.h"
 #include "utf8.h"
 #include "dir.h"
+#include "color.h"
 
 struct config_source {
 	struct config_source *prev;
@@ -1350,6 +1351,9 @@ int git_default_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *dummy)
 	if (starts_with(var, "advice."))
 		return git_default_advice_config(var, value);
 
+	if (git_color_config(var, value, dummy) < 0)
+		return -1;
+
 	if (!strcmp(var, "pager.color") || !strcmp(var, "color.pager")) {
 		pager_use_color = git_config_bool(var,value);
 		return 0;
diff --git a/diff.c b/diff.c
index 85e714f6c6..9c38258030 100644
--- a/diff.c
+++ b/diff.c
@@ -299,9 +299,6 @@ int git_diff_ui_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (git_color_config(var, value, cb) < 0)
-		return -1;
-
 	return git_diff_basic_config(var, value, cb);
 }
 
diff --git a/pretty.c b/pretty.c
index e4b561c582..39cad5112b 100644
--- a/pretty.c
+++ b/pretty.c
@@ -947,6 +947,7 @@ static size_t parse_color(struct strbuf *sb, /* in UTF-8 */
 			  struct format_commit_context *c)
 {
 	const char *rest = placeholder;
+	const char *basic_color = NULL;
 
 	if (placeholder[1] == '(') {
 		const char *begin = placeholder + 2;
@@ -955,23 +956,41 @@ static size_t parse_color(struct strbuf *sb, /* in UTF-8 */
 
 		if (!end)
 			return 0;
+
 		if (skip_prefix(begin, "auto,", &begin)) {
 			if (!want_color(c->pretty_ctx->color))
 				return end - placeholder + 1;
+		} else if (skip_prefix(begin, "always,", &begin)) {
+			/* nothing to do; we do not respect want_color at all */
+		} else {
+			/* the default is the same as "auto" */
+			if (!want_color(c->pretty_ctx->color))
+				return end - placeholder + 1;
 		}
+
 		if (color_parse_mem(begin, end - begin, color) < 0)
 			die(_("unable to parse --pretty format"));
 		strbuf_addstr(sb, color);
 		return end - placeholder + 1;
 	}
+
+	/*
+	 * We handle things like "%C(red)" above; for historical reasons, there
+	 * are a few colors that can be specified without parentheses (and
+	 * they cannot support things like "auto" or "always" at all).
+	 */
 	if (skip_prefix(placeholder + 1, "red", &rest))
-		strbuf_addstr(sb, GIT_COLOR_RED);
+		basic_color = GIT_COLOR_RED;
 	else if (skip_prefix(placeholder + 1, "green", &rest))
-		strbuf_addstr(sb, GIT_COLOR_GREEN);
+		basic_color = GIT_COLOR_GREEN;
 	else if (skip_prefix(placeholder + 1, "blue", &rest))
-		strbuf_addstr(sb, GIT_COLOR_BLUE);
+		basic_color = GIT_COLOR_BLUE;
 	else if (skip_prefix(placeholder + 1, "reset", &rest))
-		strbuf_addstr(sb, GIT_COLOR_RESET);
+		basic_color = GIT_COLOR_RESET;
+
+	if (basic_color && want_color(c->pretty_ctx->color))
+		strbuf_addstr(sb, basic_color);
+
 	return rest - placeholder;
 }
 
diff --git a/ref-filter.c b/ref-filter.c
index ae6ecbd1cf..bc591f4f3d 100644
--- a/ref-filter.c
+++ b/ref-filter.c
@@ -97,14 +97,19 @@ static struct used_atom {
 	} u;
 } *used_atom;
 static int used_atom_cnt, need_tagged, need_symref;
-static int need_color_reset_at_eol;
 
-static void color_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *color_value)
+static void color_atom_parser(const struct ref_format *format, struct used_atom *atom, const char *color_value)
 {
 	if (!color_value)
 		die(_("expected format: %%(color:<color>)"));
 	if (color_parse(color_value, atom->u.color) < 0)
 		die(_("unrecognized color: %%(color:%s)"), color_value);
+	/*
+	 * We check this after we've parsed the color, which lets us complain
+	 * about syntactically bogus color names even if they won't be used.
+	 */
+	if (!want_color(format->use_color))
+		color_parse("", atom->u.color);
 }
 
 static void refname_atom_parser_internal(struct refname_atom *atom,
@@ -127,7 +132,7 @@ static void refname_atom_parser_internal(struct refname_atom *atom,
 		die(_("unrecognized %%(%s) argument: %s"), name, arg);
 }
 
-static void remote_ref_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
+static void remote_ref_atom_parser(const struct ref_format *format, struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 {
 	struct string_list params = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
 	int i;
@@ -161,28 +166,28 @@ static void remote_ref_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 	string_list_clear(&params, 0);
 }
 
-static void body_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
+static void body_atom_parser(const struct ref_format *format, struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 {
 	if (arg)
 		die(_("%%(body) does not take arguments"));
 	atom->u.contents.option = C_BODY_DEP;
 }
 
-static void subject_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
+static void subject_atom_parser(const struct ref_format *format, struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 {
 	if (arg)
 		die(_("%%(subject) does not take arguments"));
 	atom->u.contents.option = C_SUB;
 }
 
-static void trailers_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
+static void trailers_atom_parser(const struct ref_format *format, struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 {
 	if (arg)
 		die(_("%%(trailers) does not take arguments"));
 	atom->u.contents.option = C_TRAILERS;
 }
 
-static void contents_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
+static void contents_atom_parser(const struct ref_format *format, struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 {
 	if (!arg)
 		atom->u.contents.option = C_BARE;
@@ -202,7 +207,7 @@ static void contents_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 		die(_("unrecognized %%(contents) argument: %s"), arg);
 }
 
-static void objectname_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
+static void objectname_atom_parser(const struct ref_format *format, struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 {
 	if (!arg)
 		atom->u.objectname.option = O_FULL;
@@ -219,7 +224,7 @@ static void objectname_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 		die(_("unrecognized %%(objectname) argument: %s"), arg);
 }
 
-static void refname_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
+static void refname_atom_parser(const struct ref_format *format, struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 {
 	refname_atom_parser_internal(&atom->u.refname, arg, atom->name);
 }
@@ -235,7 +240,7 @@ static align_type parse_align_position(const char *s)
 	return -1;
 }
 
-static void align_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
+static void align_atom_parser(const struct ref_format *format, struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 {
 	struct align *align = &atom->u.align;
 	struct string_list params = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
@@ -274,7 +279,7 @@ static void align_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 	string_list_clear(&params, 0);
 }
 
-static void if_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
+static void if_atom_parser(const struct ref_format *format, struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 {
 	if (!arg) {
 		atom->u.if_then_else.cmp_status = COMPARE_NONE;
@@ -288,7 +293,7 @@ static void if_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 	}
 }
 
-static void head_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
+static void head_atom_parser(const struct ref_format *format, struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 {
 	struct object_id unused;
 
@@ -298,7 +303,7 @@ static void head_atom_parser(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg)
 static struct {
 	const char *name;
 	cmp_type cmp_type;
-	void (*parser)(struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg);
+	void (*parser)(const struct ref_format *format, struct used_atom *atom, const char *arg);
 } valid_atom[] = {
 	{ "refname" , FIELD_STR, refname_atom_parser },
 	{ "objecttype" },
@@ -365,7 +370,8 @@ struct atom_value {
 /*
  * Used to parse format string and sort specifiers
  */
-int parse_ref_filter_atom(const char *atom, const char *ep)
+static int parse_ref_filter_atom(const struct ref_format *format,
+				 const char *atom, const char *ep)
 {
 	const char *sp;
 	const char *arg;
@@ -413,7 +419,7 @@ int parse_ref_filter_atom(const char *atom, const char *ep)
 		arg = used_atom[at].name + (arg - atom) + 1;
 	memset(&used_atom[at].u, 0, sizeof(used_atom[at].u));
 	if (valid_atom[i].parser)
-		valid_atom[i].parser(&used_atom[at], arg);
+		valid_atom[i].parser(format, &used_atom[at], arg);
 	if (*atom == '*')
 		need_tagged = 1;
 	if (!strcmp(valid_atom[i].name, "symref"))
@@ -657,24 +663,26 @@ static const char *find_next(const char *cp)
  * Make sure the format string is well formed, and parse out
  * the used atoms.
  */
-int verify_ref_format(const char *format)
+int verify_ref_format(struct ref_format *format)
 {
 	const char *cp, *sp;
 
-	need_color_reset_at_eol = 0;
-	for (cp = format; *cp && (sp = find_next(cp)); ) {
+	format->need_color_reset_at_eol = 0;
+	for (cp = format->format; *cp && (sp = find_next(cp)); ) {
 		const char *color, *ep = strchr(sp, ')');
 		int at;
 
 		if (!ep)
 			return error(_("malformed format string %s"), sp);
 		/* sp points at "%(" and ep points at the closing ")" */
-		at = parse_ref_filter_atom(sp + 2, ep);
+		at = parse_ref_filter_atom(format, sp + 2, ep);
 		cp = ep + 1;
 
 		if (skip_prefix(used_atom[at].name, "color:", &color))
-			need_color_reset_at_eol = !!strcmp(color, "reset");
+			format->need_color_reset_at_eol = !!strcmp(color, "reset");
 	}
+	if (format->need_color_reset_at_eol && !want_color(format->use_color))
+		format->need_color_reset_at_eol = 0;
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -2060,35 +2068,34 @@ static void append_literal(const char *cp, const char *ep, struct ref_formatting
 	}
 }
 
-void format_ref_array_item(struct ref_array_item *info, const char *format,
-			   int quote_style, struct strbuf *final_buf)
+void format_ref_array_item(struct ref_array_item *info,
+			   const struct ref_format *format,
+			   struct strbuf *final_buf)
 {
 	const char *cp, *sp, *ep;
 	struct ref_formatting_state state = REF_FORMATTING_STATE_INIT;
 
-	state.quote_style = quote_style;
+	state.quote_style = format->quote_style;
 	push_stack_element(&state.stack);
 
-	for (cp = format; *cp && (sp = find_next(cp)); cp = ep + 1) {
+	for (cp = format->format; *cp && (sp = find_next(cp)); cp = ep + 1) {
 		struct atom_value *atomv;
 
 		ep = strchr(sp, ')');
 		if (cp < sp)
 			append_literal(cp, sp, &state);
-		get_ref_atom_value(info, parse_ref_filter_atom(sp + 2, ep), &atomv);
+		get_ref_atom_value(info,
+				   parse_ref_filter_atom(format, sp + 2, ep),
+				   &atomv);
 		atomv->handler(atomv, &state);
 	}
 	if (*cp) {
 		sp = cp + strlen(cp);
 		append_literal(cp, sp, &state);
 	}
-	if (need_color_reset_at_eol) {
+	if (format->need_color_reset_at_eol) {
 		struct atom_value resetv;
-		char color[COLOR_MAXLEN] = "";
-
-		if (color_parse("reset", color) < 0)
-			die("BUG: couldn't parse 'reset' as a color");
-		resetv.s = color;
+		resetv.s = GIT_COLOR_RESET;
 		append_atom(&resetv, &state);
 	}
 	if (state.stack->prev)
@@ -2097,26 +2104,38 @@ void format_ref_array_item(struct ref_array_item *info, const char *format,
 	pop_stack_element(&state.stack);
 }
 
-void show_ref_array_item(struct ref_array_item *info, const char *format, int quote_style)
+void show_ref_array_item(struct ref_array_item *info,
+			 const struct ref_format *format)
 {
 	struct strbuf final_buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 
-	format_ref_array_item(info, format, quote_style, &final_buf);
+	format_ref_array_item(info, format, &final_buf);
 	fwrite(final_buf.buf, 1, final_buf.len, stdout);
 	strbuf_release(&final_buf);
 	putchar('\n');
 }
 
 void pretty_print_ref(const char *name, const unsigned char *sha1,
-		const char *format)
+		      const struct ref_format *format)
 {
 	struct ref_array_item *ref_item;
 	ref_item = new_ref_array_item(name, sha1, 0);
 	ref_item->kind = ref_kind_from_refname(name);
-	show_ref_array_item(ref_item, format, 0);
+	show_ref_array_item(ref_item, format);
 	free_array_item(ref_item);
 }
 
+static int parse_sorting_atom(const char *atom)
+{
+	/*
+	 * This parses an atom using a dummy ref_format, since we don't
+	 * actually care about the formatting details.
+	 */
+	struct ref_format dummy = REF_FORMAT_INIT;
+	const char *end = atom + strlen(atom);
+	return parse_ref_filter_atom(&dummy, atom, end);
+}
+
 /*  If no sorting option is given, use refname to sort as default */
 struct ref_sorting *ref_default_sorting(void)
 {
@@ -2125,18 +2144,13 @@ struct ref_sorting *ref_default_sorting(void)
 	struct ref_sorting *sorting = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*sorting));
 
 	sorting->next = NULL;
-	sorting->atom = parse_ref_filter_atom(cstr_name, cstr_name + strlen(cstr_name));
+	sorting->atom = parse_sorting_atom(cstr_name);
 	return sorting;
 }
 
-int parse_opt_ref_sorting(const struct option *opt, const char *arg, int unset)
+void parse_ref_sorting(struct ref_sorting **sorting_tail, const char *arg)
 {
-	struct ref_sorting **sorting_tail = opt->value;
 	struct ref_sorting *s;
-	int len;
-
-	if (!arg) /* should --no-sort void the list ? */
-		return -1;
 
 	s = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*s));
 	s->next = *sorting_tail;
@@ -2149,8 +2163,14 @@ int parse_opt_ref_sorting(const struct option *opt, const char *arg, int unset)
 	if (skip_prefix(arg, "version:", &arg) ||
 	    skip_prefix(arg, "v:", &arg))
 		s->version = 1;
-	len = strlen(arg);
-	s->atom = parse_ref_filter_atom(arg, arg+len);
+	s->atom = parse_sorting_atom(arg);
+}
+
+int parse_opt_ref_sorting(const struct option *opt, const char *arg, int unset)
+{
+	if (!arg) /* should --no-sort void the list ? */
+		return -1;
+	parse_ref_sorting(opt->value, arg);
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/ref-filter.h b/ref-filter.h
index 6552024f09..0d98342b34 100644
--- a/ref-filter.h
+++ b/ref-filter.h
@@ -72,6 +72,21 @@ struct ref_filter {
 		verbose;
 };
 
+struct ref_format {
+	/*
+	 * Set these to define the format; make sure you call
+	 * verify_ref_format() afterwards to finalize.
+	 */
+	const char *format;
+	int quote_style;
+	int use_color;
+
+	/* Internal state to ref-filter */
+	int need_color_reset_at_eol;
+};
+
+#define REF_FORMAT_INIT { NULL, 0, -1 }
+
 /*  Macros for checking --merged and --no-merged options */
 #define _OPT_MERGED_NO_MERGED(option, filter, h) \
 	{ OPTION_CALLBACK, 0, option, (filter), N_("commit"), (h), \
@@ -90,17 +105,18 @@ struct ref_filter {
 int filter_refs(struct ref_array *array, struct ref_filter *filter, unsigned int type);
 /*  Clear all memory allocated to ref_array */
 void ref_array_clear(struct ref_array *array);
-/*  Parse format string and sort specifiers */
-int parse_ref_filter_atom(const char *atom, const char *ep);
 /*  Used to verify if the given format is correct and to parse out the used atoms */
-int verify_ref_format(const char *format);
+int verify_ref_format(struct ref_format *format);
 /*  Sort the given ref_array as per the ref_sorting provided */
 void ref_array_sort(struct ref_sorting *sort, struct ref_array *array);
 /*  Based on the given format and quote_style, fill the strbuf */
-void format_ref_array_item(struct ref_array_item *info, const char *format,
-			   int quote_style, struct strbuf *final_buf);
+void format_ref_array_item(struct ref_array_item *info,
+			   const struct ref_format *format,
+			   struct strbuf *final_buf);
 /*  Print the ref using the given format and quote_style */
-void show_ref_array_item(struct ref_array_item *info, const char *format, int quote_style);
+void show_ref_array_item(struct ref_array_item *info, const struct ref_format *format);
+/*  Parse a single sort specifier and add it to the list */
+void parse_ref_sorting(struct ref_sorting **sorting_tail, const char *atom);
 /*  Callback function for parsing the sort option */
 int parse_opt_ref_sorting(const struct option *opt, const char *arg, int unset);
 /*  Default sort option based on refname */
@@ -117,6 +133,6 @@ void setup_ref_filter_porcelain_msg(void);
  * name must be a fully qualified refname.
  */
 void pretty_print_ref(const char *name, const unsigned char *sha1,
-		const char *format);
+		      const struct ref_format *format);
 
 #endif /*  REF_FILTER_H  */
diff --git a/t/t3203-branch-output.sh b/t/t3203-branch-output.sh
index a428ae6703..d2aec0f38b 100755
--- a/t/t3203-branch-output.sh
+++ b/t/t3203-branch-output.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 test_description='git branch display tests'
 . ./test-lib.sh
+. "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/lib-terminal.sh
 
 test_expect_success 'make commits' '
 	echo content >file &&
@@ -239,4 +240,34 @@ test_expect_success 'git branch --format option' '
 	test_i18ncmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success "set up color tests" '
+	echo "<RED>master<RESET>" >expect.color &&
+	echo "master" >expect.bare &&
+	color_args="--format=%(color:red)%(refname:short) --list master"
+'
+
+test_expect_success '%(color) omitted without tty' '
+	TERM=vt100 git branch $color_args >actual.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect.bare actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success TTY '%(color) present with tty' '
+	test_terminal env TERM=vt100 git branch $color_args >actual.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect.color actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'color.branch=always overrides auto-color' '
+	git -c color.branch=always branch $color_args >actual.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect.color actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success '--color overrides auto-color' '
+	git branch --color $color_args >actual.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect.color actual
+'
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t4207-log-decoration-colors.sh b/t/t4207-log-decoration-colors.sh
index b972296f06..60f040cab8 100755
--- a/t/t4207-log-decoration-colors.sh
+++ b/t/t4207-log-decoration-colors.sh
@@ -7,11 +7,6 @@ test_description='Test for "git log --decorate" colors'
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-get_color ()
-{
-	git config --get-color no.such.slot "$1"
-}
-
 test_expect_success setup '
 	git config diff.color.commit yellow &&
 	git config color.decorate.branch green &&
@@ -20,14 +15,14 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 	git config color.decorate.stash magenta &&
 	git config color.decorate.HEAD cyan &&
 
-	c_reset=$(get_color reset) &&
+	c_reset="<RESET>" &&
 
-	c_commit=$(get_color yellow) &&
-	c_branch=$(get_color green) &&
-	c_remoteBranch=$(get_color red) &&
-	c_tag=$(get_color "reverse bold yellow") &&
-	c_stash=$(get_color magenta) &&
-	c_HEAD=$(get_color cyan) &&
+	c_commit="<YELLOW>" &&
+	c_branch="<GREEN>" &&
+	c_remoteBranch="<RED>" &&
+	c_tag="<BOLD;REVERSE;YELLOW>" &&
+	c_stash="<MAGENTA>" &&
+	c_HEAD="<CYAN>" &&
 
 	test_commit A &&
 	git clone . other &&
@@ -59,7 +54,8 @@ EOF
 # to this test since it does not contain any decoration, hence --first-parent
 test_expect_success 'Commit Decorations Colored Correctly' '
 	git log --first-parent --abbrev=10 --all --decorate --oneline --color=always |
-	sed "s/[0-9a-f]\{10,10\}/COMMIT_ID/" >out &&
+	sed "s/[0-9a-f]\{10,10\}/COMMIT_ID/" |
+	test_decode_color >out &&
 	test_cmp expected out
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t6006-rev-list-format.sh b/t/t6006-rev-list-format.sh
index a1dcdb81d7..b326d550f3 100755
--- a/t/t6006-rev-list-format.sh
+++ b/t/t6006-rev-list-format.sh
@@ -59,10 +59,14 @@ test_format () {
 }
 
 # Feed to --format to provide predictable colored sequences.
+BASIC_COLOR='%Credfoo%Creset'
+COLOR='%C(red)foo%C(reset)'
 AUTO_COLOR='%C(auto,red)foo%C(auto,reset)'
+ALWAYS_COLOR='%C(always,red)foo%C(always,reset)'
 has_color () {
-	printf '\033[31mfoo\033[m\n' >expect &&
-	test_cmp expect "$1"
+	test_decode_color <"$1" >decoded &&
+	echo "<RED>foo<RESET>" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect decoded
 }
 
 has_no_color () {
@@ -170,62 +174,84 @@ $added
 
 EOF
 
-test_format colors %Credfoo%Cgreenbar%Cbluebaz%Cresetxyzzy <<EOF
-commit $head2
-foobarbazxyzzy
-commit $head1
-foobarbazxyzzy
-EOF
-
-test_format advanced-colors '%C(red yellow bold)foo%C(reset)' <<EOF
-commit $head2
-foo
-commit $head1
-foo
-EOF
-
-test_expect_success '%C(auto,...) does not enable color by default' '
-	git log --format=$AUTO_COLOR -1 >actual &&
-	has_no_color actual
+test_expect_success 'basic colors' '
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+	commit $head2
+	<RED>foo<GREEN>bar<BLUE>baz<RESET>xyzzy
+	EOF
+	format="%Credfoo%Cgreenbar%Cbluebaz%Cresetxyzzy" &&
+	git rev-list --color --format="$format" -1 master >actual.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
-test_expect_success '%C(auto,...) enables colors for color.diff' '
-	git -c color.diff=always log --format=$AUTO_COLOR -1 >actual &&
-	has_color actual
+test_expect_success 'advanced colors' '
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+	commit $head2
+	<BOLD;RED;BYELLOW>foo<RESET>
+	EOF
+	format="%C(red yellow bold)foo%C(reset)" &&
+	git rev-list --color --format="$format" -1 master >actual.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
-test_expect_success '%C(auto,...) enables colors for color.ui' '
-	git -c color.ui=always log --format=$AUTO_COLOR -1 >actual &&
-	has_color actual
-'
+for spec in \
+	"%Cred:$BASIC_COLOR" \
+	"%C(...):$COLOR" \
+	"%C(auto,...):$AUTO_COLOR"
+do
+	desc=${spec%%:*}
+	color=${spec#*:}
+	test_expect_success "$desc does not enable color by default" '
+		git log --format=$color -1 >actual &&
+		has_no_color actual
+	'
 
-test_expect_success '%C(auto,...) respects --color' '
-	git log --format=$AUTO_COLOR -1 --color >actual &&
-	has_color actual
-'
+	test_expect_success "$desc enables colors for color.diff" '
+		git -c color.diff=always log --format=$color -1 >actual &&
+		has_color actual
+	'
 
-test_expect_success '%C(auto,...) respects --no-color' '
-	git -c color.ui=always log --format=$AUTO_COLOR -1 --no-color >actual &&
-	has_no_color actual
-'
+	test_expect_success "$desc enables colors for color.ui" '
+		git -c color.ui=always log --format=$color -1 >actual &&
+		has_color actual
+	'
 
-test_expect_success TTY '%C(auto,...) respects --color=auto (stdout is tty)' '
-	test_terminal env TERM=vt100 \
-		git log --format=$AUTO_COLOR -1 --color=auto >actual &&
-	has_color actual
-'
+	test_expect_success "$desc respects --color" '
+		git log --format=$color -1 --color >actual &&
+		has_color actual
+	'
 
-test_expect_success '%C(auto,...) respects --color=auto (stdout not tty)' '
-	(
-		TERM=vt100 && export TERM &&
-		git log --format=$AUTO_COLOR -1 --color=auto >actual &&
+	test_expect_success "$desc respects --no-color" '
+		git -c color.ui=always log --format=$color -1 --no-color >actual &&
 		has_no_color actual
-	)
+	'
+
+	test_expect_success TTY "$desc respects --color=auto (stdout is tty)" '
+		test_terminal env TERM=vt100 \
+			git log --format=$color -1 --color=auto >actual &&
+		has_color actual
+	'
+
+	test_expect_success "$desc respects --color=auto (stdout not tty)" '
+		(
+			TERM=vt100 && export TERM &&
+			git log --format=$color -1 --color=auto >actual &&
+			has_no_color actual
+		)
+	'
+done
+
+test_expect_success '%C(always,...) enables color even without tty' '
+	git log --format=$ALWAYS_COLOR -1 >actual &&
+	has_color actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '%C(auto) respects --color' '
-	git log --color --format="%C(auto)%H" -1 >actual &&
-	printf "\\033[33m%s\\033[m\\n" $(git rev-parse HEAD) >expect &&
+	git log --color --format="%C(auto)%H" -1 >actual.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.raw >actual &&
+	echo "<YELLOW>$(git rev-parse HEAD)<RESET>" >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
@@ -235,6 +261,17 @@ test_expect_success '%C(auto) respects --no-color' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'rev-list %C(auto,...) respects --color' '
+	git rev-list --color --format="%C(auto,green)foo%C(auto,reset)" \
+		-1 HEAD >actual.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.raw >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-EOF &&
+	commit $(git rev-parse HEAD)
+	<GREEN>foo<RESET>
+	EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 iconv -f utf-8 -t $test_encoding > commit-msg <<EOF
 Test printing of complex bodies
 
diff --git a/t/t6300-for-each-ref.sh b/t/t6300-for-each-ref.sh
index 834a9ed168..2274a4b733 100755
--- a/t/t6300-for-each-ref.sh
+++ b/t/t6300-for-each-ref.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ test_description='for-each-ref test'
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 . "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/lib-gpg.sh
+. "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/lib-terminal.sh
 
 # Mon Jul 3 23:18:43 2006 +0000
 datestamp=1151968723
@@ -412,21 +413,33 @@ test_expect_success 'Check for invalid refname format' '
 	test_must_fail git for-each-ref --format="%(refname:INVALID)"
 '
 
-get_color ()
-{
-	git config --get-color no.such.slot "$1"
-}
+test_expect_success 'set up color tests' '
+	cat >expected.color <<-EOF &&
+	$(git rev-parse --short refs/heads/master) <GREEN>master<RESET>
+	$(git rev-parse --short refs/remotes/origin/master) <GREEN>origin/master<RESET>
+	$(git rev-parse --short refs/tags/testtag) <GREEN>testtag<RESET>
+	$(git rev-parse --short refs/tags/two) <GREEN>two<RESET>
+	EOF
+	sed "s/<[^>]*>//g" <expected.color >expected.bare &&
+	color_format="%(objectname:short) %(color:green)%(refname:short)"
+'
 
-cat >expected <<EOF
-$(git rev-parse --short refs/heads/master) $(get_color green)master$(get_color reset)
-$(git rev-parse --short refs/remotes/origin/master) $(get_color green)origin/master$(get_color reset)
-$(git rev-parse --short refs/tags/testtag) $(get_color green)testtag$(get_color reset)
-$(git rev-parse --short refs/tags/two) $(get_color green)two$(get_color reset)
-EOF
+test_expect_success TTY '%(color) shows color with a tty' '
+	test_terminal env TERM=vt100 \
+		git for-each-ref --format="$color_format" >actual.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expected.color actual
+'
 
-test_expect_success 'Check %(color:...) ' '
-	git for-each-ref --format="%(objectname:short) %(color:green)%(refname:short)" >actual &&
-	test_cmp expected actual
+test_expect_success '%(color) does not show color without tty' '
+	TERM=vt100 git for-each-ref --format="$color_format" >actual &&
+	test_cmp expected.bare actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'color.ui=always can override tty check' '
+	git -c color.ui=always for-each-ref --format="$color_format" >actual.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expected.color actual
 '
 
 cat >expected <<\EOF
diff --git a/t/t7004-tag.sh b/t/t7004-tag.sh
index 0ef7b94394..dd5ba450ee 100755
--- a/t/t7004-tag.sh
+++ b/t/t7004-tag.sh
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ Tests for operations with tags.'
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 . "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/lib-gpg.sh
+. "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/lib-terminal.sh
 
 # creating and listing lightweight tags:
 
@@ -1900,6 +1901,30 @@ test_expect_success '--format should list tags as per format given' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success "set up color tests" '
+	echo "<RED>v1.0<RESET>" >expect.color &&
+	echo "v1.0" >expect.bare &&
+	color_args="--format=%(color:red)%(refname:short) --list v1.0"
+'
+
+test_expect_success '%(color) omitted without tty' '
+	TERM=vt100 git tag $color_args >actual.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect.bare actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success TTY '%(color) present with tty' '
+	test_terminal env TERM=vt100 git tag $color_args >actual.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect.color actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'color.ui=always overrides auto-color' '
+	git -c color.ui=always tag $color_args >actual.raw &&
+	test_decode_color <actual.raw >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect.color actual
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'setup --merged test tags' '
 	git tag mergetest-1 HEAD~2 &&
 	git tag mergetest-2 HEAD~1 &&
diff --git a/t/test-lib-functions.sh b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
index 50a9a1d1c4..1701fe2a06 100644
--- a/t/test-lib-functions.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ test_decode_color () {
 		function name(n) {
 			if (n == 0) return "RESET";
 			if (n == 1) return "BOLD";
+			if (n == 7) return "REVERSE";
 			if (n == 30) return "BLACK";
 			if (n == 31) return "RED";
 			if (n == 32) return "GREEN";