I have color codes stored in an array. I cannot print color when I take a color code from the array, but I can print color if I use the code directly in a "say" or "print" statement. What can I do to debug? I have Rakudo v2025.06.1.
[0] > my @allColors = '\e[48;5;1m \e[48;5;2m \e[48;5;3m \e[48;5;4m \e[48;5;5m'.words;
[\e[48;5;1m \e[48;5;2m \e[48;5;3m \e[48;5;4m \e[48;5;5m]
[1] > my $colorOff = "\e[0m";
[2] > say "@allColors[0] show color $colorOff";
\e[48;5;1m show color # <<<============================= no color is shown here
[2] > say "\e[48;5;1m show color $colorOff";
show color <<<========================================== intended color shown, red background
[2] > my $a = @allColors[0]
\e[48;5;1m
[3] > say "$a show color $colorOff"
\e[48;5;1m show color <<<================================ no color here either
How come a string is interpreted differently when it is taken from an array and when it is directly written? But then, how come $colorOff works okay?
The issue is with how the string is quoted.
You wrote the array using single quotes:
my @allColors = '\e[48;5;1m \e[48;5;2m ...'.words;
In single quotes, \e is not treated as an escape character — it’s just the literal characters \ and e. That’s why you only see \e[48;5;1m printed.
When you use double quotes:
my @allColors = "\e[48;5;1m \e[48;5;2m ...".words;
then \e is interpreted as the actual escape character, and the colors show up correctly.
That’s also why $colorOff works — you defined it with double quotes.
So the fix is: use double quotes for your color codes.